Best and Worst Prenatal Vitamins

The Best and Worst Prenatal Vitamin article has been the most requested article that I have written so far. I didn’t want to disappoint with this article, so I put extensive time and research to outline everything needed for healthy development, the optimal amounts of every nutrient based on research, and correct forms of the nutrients for building healthy babies worldwide. By taking these steps, I believe we can begin to reduce the disease statistics dramatically in one generation.

The Importance of Prenatal Nutrition

Our risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, allergies, asthma, mental illness, PCOS, and obesity have been consistently been linked in research studies to prenatal nutrition during the first 9 months of pregnancy.

Women who take multivitamins may be less likely to experience ovulatory infertility; women who take six or more tablets had the lowest relative risk for infertility. This shows you the importance of supplementation from the beginning of conception.

At Nutrition Genome, I do programs for couples before conception to outline the most beneficial diet for future parents based on their unique genetics and biochemistry. This preparation has the potential to shape the gene expression of the child during pregnancy and even extend to the grandchildren. It also gives the mother sufficient reserves so that her health isn’t dramatically altered.

Epigenetics is the study of how this expression occurs from our diet, environment, relationships, and stress. What you eat has an epigenetic effect on your genes. According to David Williams, principal investigator for the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, “DNA expression can be altered at any age, but the fetus is especially susceptible because these pathways are very active as tissues grow and differentiate.” In other words, a mother’s eating habits, exercise regime, stress levels and environment actually have the power to shape the gene expression passed down.

Click on the images below to read more about how nutrigenomic testing can help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Prenatal Vitamin and Mineral Research

According to the 2009 statistics from the U.S Department of Agriculture, here is the list of nutrients that women are commonly low in and support the need for prenatal supplements:

I have created a chart for the optimal levels of vitamins and minerals during pregnancy. You will not find a perfect prenatal vitamin supplement that hits all of these perfectly, but it will allow you see what you might be missing. Below this chart is a very detailed summary of the research used to come to reach these conclusions. You can treat this like a mini prenatal vitamin and mineral guide to create a well-balanced diet. You can also scroll right to the bottom if you just want to know my prenatal recommendations.

Vitamin A as Retinol (3,000-10,000IU from your diet)

There has been a major scare over the past few years regarding vitamin A and teratogenic (birth defects) effects on the fetus, lowering vitamin A recommendations for pregnant women and leading to multiple supplement companies to keep lowering their vitamin A content, or completely switching to beta carotene. Read this section carefully and educate yourself, because it will be challenged by your doctor.

The American Pediatrics Association cites vitamin A as one of the most critical vitamins during pregnancy and the breastfeeding period, especially in terms of lung function and maturation. According to the European Journal of Nutrition, The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends a 40% increase in vitamin A intake for pregnant women and a 90% increase for breastfeeding women. They also state that “pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant are generally advised to avoid the intake of vitamin A rich liver and liver foods, based upon unsupported scientific findings.”

Up until the 1950s, a relatively large number of studies showed that laboratory animals (pigs, rabbits, chickens, rats, and mice) fed vitamin A–deficient diets gave birth to malformed offspring and spontaneous abortion. A 2000 study on pregnant mice found that high (100 mg/kg) and moderate (50 and 25 mg/kg) doses of vitamin A as retinyl acetate resulted in significant facial, heart and thymus abnormalities. Finally, neural defects and craniofacial malformations were found in children born in regions where glyphosate-based herbicides (sprayed on GMO crops) are used due to glyphosate-incuded endogenous retinoic acid activity.

The truth is, both vitamin A deficiency and toxicity can cause birth defects and affect the baby’s health.

Studies that Found Safety

#1 A 1997 study found that women consuming doses of vitamin A between 8,000 and 25,000 IU from supplements and fortified cereals were no greater in the major malformations group or the group with neural tube defects than in the normal control group. The researchers concluded, “If vitamin A is a teratogen, the minimum teratogenic dose appears to be well above the level consumed by most women during organogenesis.”

#2 A study found that human epidemiologic studies do not establish at what level vitamin A becomes teratogenic; however, pharmacokinetic data presented in this paper indicate that blood levels of retinoids from women taking 30,000 IU/d of preformed vitamin A are not greater than retinoid blood levels in pregnant women during the first trimester who delivered healthy babies.

#3 A clinical trial was carried out in Hungary in which a supplement of 6000 IU of vitamin A did not increase the incidence of fetal malformations.

#4 According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, up to 20 case reports of the relationship between a high vitamin A intake and an adverse pregnancy outcome in humans were published in the past 30 years. These reports are of limited use for establishing a quantitative link between vitamin A intake and teratogenic events, however. Furthermore, the pattern of the observed malformations is not always consistent with the retinoic acid syndrome, thus calling into question the origin of these malformations.

Studies that Raised Caution

Teratogenesis of high vitamin A intakes has been reported in several animal species. The pattern of birth defects sometimes called “retinoic acid syndrome” includes the central nervous system, craniofacial, cardiovascular, and thymus malformations. Similar abnormalities were observed in humans when pregnancies occurred during therapeutic treatment with retinoic acid, especially isotretinoin (Accutane). This synthetic form of vitamin A used for acne is well known to cause birth defects.

This study concluded that among the babies born to women who took more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A per day in the form of supplements, an estimated 1 infant in 57 had a malformation attributable to the supplement.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:

The teratogenicity of high vitamin A intakes during pregnancy remains unclear and it is unlikely that new findings will shed light on this issue over the next few years. Human clinical trials are not ethically possible, so we must rely on those already performed, on forthcoming epidemiologic trials, and on our knowledge of vitamin A metabolism and functions, which is largely derived from animal studies. This information clearly shows that the teratogenicity of vitamin A is biologically and physiologically possible, yet its real occurrence in humans seems limited.

One drawback in all human studies is that the specific effects of vitamin A intake cannot be determined. Most of the information comes from the use of supplements or, at best, supplemented foods, that are taken on a regular basis and in moderate doses. However, data from animal studies clearly show that one single, high dose of vitamin A can be teratogenic, provided it is given at a critical period of embryonic development.

Beta Carotene is Not Vitamin A

If you look at the label on prenatal vitamins you will see vitamin A listed, but next to vitamin A you will find (as beta-carotene). This is true of many regular multivitamins as well. Assuming a vitamin A conversion rate for beta-carotene for juice is 4:1, and fruit and vegetables between 12:1 and 26:1; the total vitamin A contribution from beta-carotene intake represents 10-15% of the RDA. This does not take into genetic variants of BCMO1 that decrease the conversion another 57%, dietary fat intake (the conversion requires fat) and thyroid disorders.

If the vitamin A supply of the mother is inadequate, her supply to the fetus will also be inadequate, as will later be her milk. The major problem is that post-natal supplementation will not correct this issue. A clinical study in pregnant women with short birth intervals or multiple births showed that almost 1/3 of the women had plasma retinol levels below 1.4 micromol/l corresponding to a borderline deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency is the western world should no longer be ignored for a healthy diet.

That being said, I believe prenatal vitamins should use D. Salina or vegetable sourced beta-carotene and mixed carotenoids and vitamin A is best from the diet.

Conclusion for Vitamin A

From my research, it appears that vitamin A in the form of supplements given at a large dose or a high intake of glyphosate from processed food during a time of key embryonic development is the key understanding of toxicity. Natural vitamin A from food – or even from supplements less than 10,000 IU in relationship to vitamin D intake does not appear to have any evidence that proves causation of toxicity. Vitamin A helps protect against toxicity of vitamin D, and vitamin D helps prevent against toxicity of vitamin A. The absence of this understanding is also a major omission in this studies.

For numerous generations, liver was recommended once a week during pregnancy. I know my mom ate liver once a week, took vitamin A supplements and ate a lot of eggs while she was pregnant with me. Approximately 3.5 oz. of liver has 52,000 IU of vitamin A. Since vitamin A is fat-soluble and stored in the liver, once a week would give you your weekly dose of vitamin A.

If you didn’t like liver, taking 1 tsp. virgin cod liver oil daily would be equivalent to approximately 21,000-35,000IU per week. Even three bright orange pastured eggs per day (vitamin A is higher in pastured eggs) could give you up to 3,000IU per day, or 21,000IU per week.

The optimal dosage of vitamin A would be very hard to determine since it also probably changes person to person. However, a dose of 3,000-10,000IU daily and 3.5 oz. of grass-fed liver once a week does not appear to pose any toxicity risk while appearing to supply optimal vitamin A. In my opinion, this is a more responsible recommendation than wrongly thinking you can get all the vitamin A you need from beta-carotene.

Vitamin C (400mg-500mg 1-2x a day)

According to data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 31% of US adults do not meet the estimated average requirement for vitamin C, and this is for an RDA that has been drastically reduced over the years. If you read studies on our Paleolithic ancestors, they obtained approximately 400mg per day. Today, the RDA is only 60mg and is wrong.

Having a low intake of vitamin C during pregnancy may be associated with high blood pressure, swelling of the hands, feet and face, upper respiratory infections, pre-eclampsia, anemia, and low birth weight. Large quantities of ascorbic acid are utilized by the female during conception and are necessary to formation and integrity of the fetal membranes. Vitamin C also reduces blood lead levels, important due to today’s water and air quality.

During pregnancy, plasma levels of vitamin C normally fall approximately 10 to 15%. A combination of vitamin C from a prenatal and from the diet should hit 400-500mg daily. This need may be higher for those prone to respiratory infections, low immunity, and high stress.

If you are experiencing infertility, one study showed that the rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in the vitamin C supplementation group of 750mg: 25% within six months, while only 11% of the untreated women became pregnant in the same time period.

Vitamin D3 (Vitamin D level between 40-50ng/ml, 2,000IU-4,000IU)

The largest randomized controlled trial to date from the Medical University of South Carolina took 256 pregnant women and separated the group into two groups, 2,000 and 4,000 IU daily starting 3-4 months of pregnancy. A control group of 400IU was not allowed because the ethics committee felt that this would endanger the women and their newborns. This is the amount women have taken with just a prenatal vitamin!

The results showed that the 4,000 IU group had 2.4 times higher of having an infant in the 50th percentile of birth weight compared to the 2,000 IU group. Lower vitamin D levels were predictive of preterm delivery, infections, and other complications.

In a very recent 2016 study, pregnant women with low vitamin D levels at 20 weeks more likely to have a child with autistic traits.

Get your vitamin D levels tested early and supplement as necessary to support your baby’s health.

Vitamin E (22-30mg as d-alpha tocopherol and mixed tocopherols)

One study concluded that “consumption of high doses of Vitamin E (over 400IU) during the first trimester of pregnancy does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for major malformations, but may be associated with a decrease in birth weight.” What is interesting about this is that research has associated low birth weights with an increased risk of heart disease later in life, something vitamin E is associated with preventing in the right dosage.

Another study found that supplemental vitamin E (400IU) from the second trimester of pregnancy did not appear to affect the risk of pregnancy outcomes and occurrence of preeclampsia.

While vitamin E shares an antioxidant commonality with vitamin C, it does not appear to warrant the same use of higher doses. Low dietary intake of vitamin C was associated with a trend towards an increased incidence of either severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. A small increase in the incidence of severe disease was also seen in the group of women with a high intake of vitamin E from supplements and dietary sources.

Based on the available evidence, I think 22-30mg is the correct amount, not 400IU or higher.

Vitamin K1 and K2

Vitamin K is essential for the formation of at least three proteins involved in blood clotting as well as of other proteins found in plasma, bone, and kidney. Vitamin K deficiency primarily affects the blood clotting process. Newborn infants are at high risk of deficiency because breast milk contains inadequate concentrations of vitamin K and their intestines are not yet colonized with vitamin K-producing bacteria.

Studies have found that the blood thinning drug Warfarin – which depletes vitamin K – has been shown to cause birth defects. This shows the importance of vitamin K that hasn’t been fully elucidated yet. Vitamin K2 is believed to be instrumental in teeth and bone formation.

Vitamin K is provided by the diet and gut bacteria. There is no known toxicity for K2 and therefore an upper limit hasn’t been established. The optimal amount is still being determined for pregnancy, but a conservative amount of vitamin K2 from supplementation is currently in the 65 mcg-100mcg range, depending on your diet.

B1 Thiamin (1.4mg to 2mg)

Conventional treatment for gestational diabetes increases the proportion of infants born with a low birth weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. During pregnancy, approximately 50% of the women develop a biochemical deficiency of the b vitamin thiamine. The need for thiamine goes up in the third trimester. Causes of thiamine deficiency include a milled grain-based diet, high alcohol intake, gastrointestinal disorders and prolonged cooking of foods.

Thiamine is essential for glucose oxidation, insulin production by pancreatic beta-cells and cell growth. Research has stated that thiamine supplementation is a good preventative and treatment of gestational diabetes because it improves their glucose tolerance and stimulates the intra-uterine growth, thereby preventing a low birth weight to ensue from conventional therapy which only improves glucose tolerance.

B2: Riboflavin (1.4mg to 2.4mg)

Riboflavin deficiency has been implicated in preeclampsia.

Riboflavin plays a special role in MTHFR 677 where it has been found to stabilize the enzyme. Studies have shown that the MTHFR 677 TT genotype is associated with high homocysteine when riboflavin (B2) status is low. Many doctors will see a homozygous MTHFR 677 and automatically give high amounts of methylfolate (1-5mg) without looking at riboflavin, B6, B12 or choline status. Often, 400-800mcg of methylfolate is sufficient and more than this can cause anxiety issues depending on variants in other genes.

B6 (2.2mg to 10mg as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate)

Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) is the physiologically active form of vitamin B6 and is a coenzyme in over 100 known reactions. In multivitamins, B6 is often labeled as pyridoxal hydrochloride, which is not absorbed as well as PLP. PLP is expensive, and many companies do not use it because it increases the price of their product. PLP is worth the money.

An epidemiological study done at Tufts University in 2008 found that a substantial percentage of the population had inadequate B6 status. Studies have also consistently shown that in comparison with nonpregnant controls, pregnant women have lower plasma levels of vitamin B6.

It has been suggested that low B6 is associated with gestational diabetes and ”pregnancy depression”—described as pessimism, crying, tension without sleep, or appetite disorders. Vitamin B6 plays a very important role in mental health, needed in the formation of histamine, serotonin, and dopamine.

All forms of vitamin B6, especially PLP, cross the placenta into the fetal blood where its concentrations are two to five times higher than those in maternal blood. The most substantial decrease in plasma PLP levels is found between the fourth and eighth months of pregnancy, paralleling the period of most intensive growth of the fetus.

B6 is higher in organ meats than muscle meats and is needed for amino acid metabolism. Therefore a high lean protein intake low in B6 increases the need for B6. This is also true of vitamin A. The elevation of estrogen during pregnancy also increases the need for B6. The deficiency of B6 leads to morning sickness and nausea, which can be treated successfully with B6 supplementation.

If you have been on birth control for a long period of time, B6 needs may be higher. Long-term use (>30 months) of oral contraceptives containing high levels of estrogen was associated with significantly lower maternal and umbilical cord serum vitamin B6 levels than those in women who took no oral contraceptives, and evidence indicates that their vitamin B6 reserves may be decreased in early pregnancy.

B7 Biotin (30-50mcg)

The need for biotin increases with pregnancy and deficiency has been linked to birth defects. At least one-third of women develop marginal biotin deficiency during pregnancy, and there are prenatal vitamins that do not contain any biotin. The highest levels of biotin are actually found in organic pastured egg yolks and is connected to hair growth.

B9 (600-800mcg as Methylfolate)

Folate is one of the most well-known nutrients during pregnancy for preventing spina bifida. Due to its role in DNA synthesis, a deficiency has widespread consequences in fetal development. Folate and choline are methyl donors, and the addition of a single methyl group can change an individual’s epigenome.

Folic acid is a synthetic version of folate that does not exist in nature. In a study titled Is Folic Acid Good for Everyone?, the author argues that folic acid could interfere with the metabolism, cellular transport, and regulatory functions of the natural folates that occur in the body by competing with the reduced forms for binding with enzymes, carrier proteins, and binding proteins. The folate receptor has a higher affinity for folic acid than for methyl-THF—the main form of folate that occurs in the blood and might inhibit the transport of methyl-THF into the brain.

A new study from John’s Hopkins University looked at 1,391 mother-child pairs in the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly low-income minority population. The researchers found that very high circulating folic acid doubled the risk of autism, and B12 levels that were very high tripled the risk of autism. If both levels are extremely high, the risk that a child develops the disorder increases 17.6 times.

Homozygous variants in MTHFR 677 or a combination of a heterozygous MTHFR 677 and 1298 may put you at a higher need for folate. These variants also require B2 (riboflavin), B12, B6 and choline to normalize the methylation cycle. You want to choose folate as methylfolate and B12 as methylcobalamin.

If you were advised to take a high amount of methylfolate (1-5mg) and had a bad reaction, niacin is actually given due to niacin’s ability to quench excess methyl groups. It makes much more sense to give methylfolate as part of a B-complex because it includes niacin and other B-vitamins that provide balance.

B12 (2-10mcg as Methylcobalamin)

Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic B12 form found in cheap multivitamins and fortified foods. Cyanocobalamin must be converted to methylcobalamin and requires the split of a cyanide (the toxin) molecule from cobalamin. Like folic acid, the ability to make this conversion is impaired in many people.

As mentioned above, one study found that very high circulating folic acid doubled the risk of autism, and B12 levels that were very high tripled the risk of autism. If both levels are extremely high, the risk that a child develops the disorder increases 17.6 times.

As I explored in my Best and Worst Multivitamins article, this study was done in a predominately low-income minority population and was most likely due to a diet high in processed fortified foods along with supplements containing folic acid and cyanocobalamin.

I will give you my theory on why this may have occurred, which I haven’t seen explored yet. One, synthetic folic acid can bottleneck and block folate receptors, creating high circulating levels. Two, cyanide is one of the air toxins found to have a statistical significance on autism risk and high oxidative stress is found in children with autism. Three, a study found that young US children with autism and their mothers had unusually low levels of lithium compared to neurotypical children and their mothers. I will explain how this relates to excessive cyanocobalamin.

Cyanocobalamin is composed of cyanide and cobalamin and splits off cyanide, which can block the electron transport chain of the mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell and sensitive to oxidative stress). Lithium is a carrier of B12 into the mitochondria. Excessive cyanocobalamin could theoretically both disrupt the electron transport chain into the mitochondria, deplete methyl groups for methylation, increase mitochondrial oxidative stress, and cause very low lithium levels trying to keep up with the high circulating blood levels of B12 that are struggling to make it into the mitochondria. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the medical disorders that has been consistently associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Zinc (15mg)

Studies have estimated that 82% of pregnant women in the world may have inadequate intake of dietary zinc! Why is this happening? Drop in liver and shellfish consumption, zinc from plants is poorly absorbed, grains high in phytic acid will actually block zinc uptake, and very high amounts of copper or iron in the diet will compete with zinc at absorption sites.

Copper (1mg)

Copper plays a role in the brain, tendons, skin development, increasing iron absorption and processing oxygen. Too much can cause preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation while low serum levels have been linked to pathological pregnancies and miscarriage. Serum copper increases during pregnancy and is doubled at full term with peaks at the 22nd, 27th and 35th gestational week.

There is a balance between zinc and copper levels that is very important (approximately 15mg of zinc to 1mg of copper). Adequate zinc will push down excess copper, but too much zinc will push it too low. Conversely, insufficient zinc will lead to elevated copper levels.

A form of copper called “cupric oxide” in prenatal vitamins should be avoided. If the type of copper is not listed, ask the company if it is cupric oxide.

Iron (18-27mg)

Iron requirements are reduced during the first trimester, increases for the second and third trimester of pregnancy due to oxygen requirements and infant storage during the breastfeeding phase and is especially high after delivery. Iron deficiency can lead to postpartum depression, fatigue, and poor breast milk production or quality.

It is recommended to enter pregnancy with higher levels of iron and ferrtin levels to meet your requirements fully. Approximately 40% of women entering pregnancy with insufficient iron reserves and unfavorable iron status, and 25% get iron deficiency anemia.

Women suffering from iron deficiency anemia during the first two trimesters are twice as likely to deliver early and three times the risk of having a low birth weight. Iron deficiency during the third trimester also affects the hippocampus; involved in learning, memory, and cognition, leading to cognitive dysfunction that could continue to adulthood.

Research has stated that “the amounts that can be absorbed from even an optimal diet, however, are less than the iron requirements in later pregnancy.” I wonder if this would be true if women ate liver once a week? In 3.5 oz. of liver, there is 17.7mg of iron. In 3.5 oz. of beef, there is 2.6mg.

Nevertheless, many women would rather have another option and supplementing is recommended. You want the right dosage for your levels. Remember that too much iron can be constipating, taking vitamin C at the same time helps iron absorption, copper increases iron absorption, and vitamin A helps mobilize iron storage.

The main forms of iron you want to avoid are gluconate and sulfate, which are constipating. I recommend Iron Bisglycinate . A 2014 double-blind study found that 25mg of Iron Bisglycinate was as effective as 50mg of ferrous sulfate for pregnant women. They also experienced lower gastrointestinal complaints and their babies had slightly higher birth weights.

Choline (550mg to 930mg)

As of June 17th, 2017, the American Medical Association voted to support evidence-based amounts of choline in all prenatal vitamins, noting that most prenatal supplements currently contain little if any choline.

Choline plays an important role in the liver, gallbladder, vulnerability to toxins, preventing spinal cord and brain defects, and the future mental health of the child. Genetic polymorphisms in PEMT may alter the dietary requirement for choline and increase the likelihood of developing signs of deficiency (fatty liver, gallbladder issues during pregnancy) when choline intake is inadequate.

The choline pathway is actually enriched with DHA, which of course also plays a prominent role in brain development. One analysis found that a higher choline intake (930 compared with 480 mg/d) augmented the rise in choline/DHA in nonpregnant women and choline needs are increased during the third trimester of pregnancy. The researchers found that a higher choline intake along with supplementary DHA acted synergistically to produce the greatest enrichment of choline and DHA in red blood cells. This is a major find for mental health.

An article from NPR came out this month that explored whether or not supplementing with the choline could enhance brain growth in the developing fetus and prevent mental illness. One group of moms-to-be were given phosphatidylcholine and the other group was given a placebo. The dosage was large; 900mg total. However, this is also close to the amount recommend during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. After birth, infants were given either 100 milligrams of liquid phosphatidylcholine or a placebo once a day for approximately three months. A test was administered at 5 weeks old testing simultaneous clicking sounds while measuring brain activity.

The results published in 2013 in the American Journal of Psychiatry by Freedman’s group show that 76 percent of newborns whose mothers received choline supplements had normal inhibition to the sound stimuli, while 43 percent of the newborns did not. Those who do not have a normal inhibition to the sound stimuli have been found to have an increased risk for attention problems, social withdrawal and, later in life, schizophrenia.

The results show that choline might steer the infant brain away from a developmental course that predicted mental health problems.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (400-600mg DHA)

Omega-3 fatty acids are vitally important during pregnancy as they are critical building blocks of fetal brain and eyes, but are also crucial for preventing postpartum depression. DHA is transferred from the mother to the fetus at a high rate during pregnancy, thereby depleting maternal stores. This is a very important point to understand for all vitamins and minerals transferred from the mom to the fetus. If an expecting mom does not have sufficient reserves, this can drastically affect her pregnancy.

A recent study found that an estimated 106,000 high-risk preterm births could be avoided in the US and 1,100 in Australia alone every year if women supplemented with prenatal DHA.

The studies demonstrating the greatest efficacy have used doses in the range of 1–2 g/day of fish oil. One study found that Mexican women that supplemented with 400mg of the omega fatty acid DHA delivered babies who weighed more and had larger head circumferences.

The lowest concentrations of DHA were found in North America and Canadian breast milk. Levels of DHA averaged only 0.17% of total fatty acids in contrast to the highest levels found in Japan where DHA represented 0.99% of the total milk fatty acids.

I believe fish oil should be supplemented separately if adequate DHA is not obtained in the prenatal.

Iodine (290mcg)

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggest that more than half of pregnant women have urinary iodine concentrations below 150 mg/dL. Inadequate iodine intakes during pregnancy result in fetal loss, stillbirths, cretinism, and mental retardation of the newborn infant.

As of 2015, The US Council for Responsible Nutrition’s new guidelines calls for all dietary supplement manufacturers and marketers to begin including at least 150mcg of iodine in all daily multivitamin/mineral supplements intended for pregnant and lactating women in the United States. The optimal dose may be 200-300mcg. If you have suffered from hypothyroidism, this makes sufficient iodine along with selenium, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin D that much more important.

A study in 2009 found that 51% of US prenatal multivitamin brands did not contain any iodine and, in a number of randomly selected brands, the actual dose of iodine contained in the supplements did not match the values on the label.

A study from JAMA in 2018 found that low iodine levels may impair fertility. Compared with women with normal iodine levels or mild iodine deficiency, women with iodine-creatine ratios lower than 50 μg/g had a 46% lower chance of becoming pregnant in any menstrual cycle.

Fluoridated water displaces iodine, creating a higher need for this crucial mineral and filtering fluoride.

Selenium (60-70mcg, 200mcg for infertility)

Selenium is a primary mineral needed by glutathione, our master antioxidant system. It also blocks the uptake of mercury and plays a significant role in the reproductive system. Selenium deficiencies may lead to gestational complications, miscarriages and the damaging of the nervous and immune systems of the fetus.

As you will see in the study below, 200mcg of selenium was used along with magnesium to resolve infertility. Selenium has also been found to resolve infertility in men.

Magnesium (400-600mg)

In one study, six women with a history of unexplained infertility or early miscarriage and who had failed to normalize their red cell magnesium (RBC-Mg) levels after four months of oral magnesium supplementation (600 mg/day) were investigated for red cell glutathione peroxidase activity.

They were compared with six age-matched women with a history of unexplained infertility or miscarriage who did normalize their RBC-Mg levels on magnesium supplementation. The six non-normalizers had significantly lower glutathione levels than the six normalizers.

After a further two months of 200 micrograms daily oral selenium as selenomethionine and oral magnesium supplements, all six women normalized their magnesium and RBC-selenium levels. All 12 previously infertile women have produced normal healthy babies all conceiving within eight months of normalizing their RBC-Magnesium levels.

Calcium (1000-1300mg)

During pregnancy, a woman’s body provides daily doses between 50 and 330 mg to support the developing fetal skeleton. A recommendation in the US and Europe has continually been 1,000mg, while the average intake is 800mg in young women. Vegetables high in calcium, calcium-rich Gerolsteiner mineral water), and dairy can reach your daily calcium targets. Since calcium blocks lead uptake, getting adequate calcium is crucial.

Calcium absorption and utilization are tightly regulated. For example, many foods that contain oxalic acid bind to calcium; often found in foods that contain calcium. Too much calcium affects the absorption of magnesium, while higher amounts of magnesium increase the absorption of calcium. Calcium deficiency is rare in pregnancy but appears in cases of hypoparathyroidism, severe dietary inadequacy and in individuals who are unable to eat foods high in calcium.

Calcium needs go up in the third trimester and during labor. For this reason, I recommend Gerolsteiner Mineral Water (let it go flat) as an electrolyte drink during labor.

Worst Prenatal Vitamins

The search for the best prenatal vitamin is not an easy feat. Especially since the FDA tested 324 multivitamin-multimineral products that targeted pregnant women or small children for the presence of lead, and found that only 4 of them, or 1% tested lead-free. However, the air, water, and soil contain lead and it is in our food. What you want to look for are very low levels when multivitamins use whole foods. The safe upper limit for lead according to the FDA is 25mcg per day for pregnant women, but I think this amount should be much lower.

Lead is of particular concern during pregnancy because it causes fetal brain damage, limited IQ, and can lead to behavioral and learning disabilities in young children. Research has also found that lead exposure has a multigenerational effect all the way down to your grandchildren. Then add in food dyes, poor forms of vitamins and toxic additives, and it is no wonder it is so hard to find a good prenatal vitamin.

There is an argument that lead is present in the soil and therefore is naturally higher in supplements that contain whole foods. While this may be true, I have seen companies able to source whole food ingredients with much lower lead levels than competitors. Seek out these companies. Calcium blocks lead uptake while vitamin C lowers blood levels of lead. Calcium is often absent in multivitamins and vitamin C is often too low or whole food based, which has a very short half-life. These are both important to keep lead levels low.

1. One A Day Women’s Prenatal

A very common recommendation. One of the first things you will see is a list of food dyes: Red 40 Dye, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, and DL-Alpha-tocopheryl Acetate – the synthetic form of vitamin E that is continually problematic in studies.

What is wrong with food dyes?These food dyes have been found to inhibit mitochondrial respiration; the powerhouse of your cell that houses maternal DNA and I talked about in detail under the B12 section. Red 3 causes cancer in animals, with evidence that other dyes also are carcinogenic. Three dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) have been found to be contaminated with benzidine or other carcinogens. At least four dyes (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) cause hypersensitivity reactions and numerous studies found Yellow 5 positive for genotoxicity.

An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration recently acknowledged that synthetic food dyes can exacerbate the conditions associated with ADHD and other behavioral problems. While the consumption of synthetic food dyes has increased five-fold since 1955, the number of children diagnosed with ADHD increased from 150,000 in 1970 to 5.4 million by 2007.

A 2007 study in Lancet found such a strong correlation to synthetic food dyes and hyperactive behaviors in children, that they contacted the British government concluding that the harm done by artificial food dyes to children’s IQ was similar to the impact of lead on their developing brains and that banning these additives would result in a 30 percent reduction in the prevalence of ADHD in children.

2. Centrum Specialist Prenatal Complete Multivitamin Supplement

Centrum made my worst list for Best and Worst Multivitamins, and their formulation for a prenatal is also as disappointing. Aside from having the wrong forms of folate and B12, you will also find corn starch, synthetic vitamin E, polyethylene glycol (essentially plastic and the main ingredient in Miralax, not FDA approved for children, and some families have reported concerns to the FDA that some neurologic or behavioral symptoms in children may be related to it), polyvinyl alcohol (synthetic polymer), sodium benzoate (when combined with vitamin C as found in this formula you create benzene, a known carcinogen), sodium selenate (a form of selenium considered to be highly toxic and induce DNA damage) and sucrose.

3. Vitafusion Prenatal

This formula uses folate as folic acid, B12 as cyanocobalamin, is missing iron, B1, B2, vitamin K and numerous minerals like selenium, iodine, copper, manganese, and boron. It uses a very small amount of EPA (50mg) and DHA (15mg) that isn’t nearly close to enough for a pregnant woman. It also has glucose syrup, sucrose, and natural flavors, which should always be confirmed to be MSG free. Quite honestly, this should not be allowed to be marketed as a prenatal vitamin.

4. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin

This is also a very popular prenatal multivitamin. It contains only 400IU of vitamin D2, which is too low and not as effective as D3, folate as folic acid, B12 as cyanocobalamin and magnesium in the oxide form (only 4% is absorbed).

Based on reviews on Amazon, there also appears to be some serious issues with quality control since three different reviewers all found black substances on the pills.

5. NatureMade PrenatalMulti

This uses 400IU of vitamin D, folate as folic acid, B12 as cyanocobalamin, a poor form of zinc, is missing copper, selenium, iodine, manganese, boron and choline.

Best Prenatal Vitamins

Remember that your prenatal will also require a separate DHA fish oil product. There was a California Proposition 65 lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy, GNC, NOW Health Group, Omega Protein, Pharmavite (Nature Made brand), Rite Aid Corp., Solgar, and Twinlab Corp for selling fish oil laced with PCB’s, which are one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants. PCB’s are strongly tied to cancer and multiple birth defects. You want to choose your fish oil wisely.

This intelligent prenatal formula was just released by an impressive team with a background in biochemistry and genetics and has taken the #1 spot. I am excited that women now have access to a product of this quality that supports maternal and fetal health that was also designed with all of the new FDA requirements.

This prenatal will provide you with a tremendous foundation. Some of the highlights include:

VitaminIQ provides 350mg choline from sunflower and 200mg TMG (that acts as a secondary methyl donor in the same pathway) for a total of 550mg choline + TMG.50/50 Blend of carotenoids and vitamin A palmitate. The vitamin A addition is very helpful for those that are not getting enough in their diet and have a poor conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A as seen in the Nutrition Genome Report.Sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts – oxidative stress protection, blood sugar balance, brain development, protection from toxins.50mcg (2000IU’s) of vitamin D3 from black olives.Correct doses and forms of all B vitamins – too high of a dose of B vitamins and wrong form can make pregnant women feel anxious and nauseous.Chelated minerals for easier digestion and assimilation including 400mg calcium from red algae.300mg iodine from Icelandic Kelp – this was another big change for 2018 FDA DV% that almost doubled.175mg magnesium malate, my favorite form of magnesium.18mg iron70mcg selenium15mg zinc

Capsules can be opened and added to smoothie, drink or food. It is GMO-free, vegan, yeast free, soy free, gluten free and has zero fillers, artificial ingredients or harmful additives.

This prenatal product was just launched on January 4th, 2017. Naturelo actually reached out to me to review their formula before they launched it. While their initial formula was excellent, I offered some suggestions to improve it. They decided to delay their December launch and make every change I suggested.

The FDA recently made dramatic changes in 2018 to the DV% and certain measurements. Here is a link to show the old label versus the new label with the exact same amounts. As of March 2018, Naturelo has stated that they will be reducing the amount of biotin based on the new DV%.

Natural full spectrum carotenoids30IU of vitamin E with mixed tocopherolsVitamin K2 in the right dosage4mg of B6 as P-5-P800mcg of methylfolate10mcg of methylcobalaminCorrect amounts of all the other B-vitamins200mg of magnesium citrate and 350mg of calcium15mg of zinc amino acid chelate18mg of iron150mcg of iodine60mcg of selenium100mg of choline

This prenatal will provide you with a tremendous foundation. You may require more vitamin D (check your levels early), dietary calcium, DHA from fish oil and dietary choline.

*The formula has changed and the labels have not been updated on Amazon or MegaFood’s website as of July 30th 2019. We contacted the company requesting the update, and to send us the label as well. We will update the information below once we receive it.

This product follows many of The Health Beat guidelines with high-quality whole food based ingredients in the right form. It has been tested to be exceedingly low in heavy metals, no harmful additives and is pesticide and herbicide free. The formula uses a combination of whole foods, synthesized nutrients like methylcobalamin and choline, and brewers yeast. Brewers yeast is used to make bread and beer and is naturally high in B-vitamins, chromium, and selenium.

There is another version of the “Baby and Me” formula, but this one is superior.

300mg of choline, rare to find in a prenatal600mcg of methylfolate from broccoli10mcg of methylcobalamin8mg of B6 as P-5-P30IU of natural vitamin E in the mixed tocopherol form18mg of iron150mcg of iodine15mg of zinc chelate50mcg of selenium

Formulation Improvement and/or Additional Nutrition Needed

It contains 600IU of vitamin D and you may need 2,000IU to 4,000IU

Does not contain any magnesium or calcium, however, most prenatal’s will not provide nearly what you need for both

This formula is designed for those who can’t or do not tolerate swallowing pills. It is also a stronger formula that I have only recommended for those who have had trouble getting pregnant, keeping a pregnancy, certain food allergies and their Nutrition Genome Report has shown multiple genes and health issues requiring higher amounts of specific vitamins and minerals. Choose the chocolate version that I have listed here. After reviewing the Certificate of Analysis of each powder, the vanilla version – while technically still in the safe range – has a higher level of arsenic.

This formula does not contain copper and has very little iron. This may be a good thing if you have elevated copper levels and your iron intake and levels are optimal.

Here is a summary of some of the dosages:

2,000IU of vitamin D200IU of vitamin E5,000IU of both beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate (if you do not eat eggs, dairy or use cod liver oil, this form of vitamin A is necessary)20mg of B6 as P-5-P and pyridoxine hydrochloride800mcg of methylfolate150mcg of methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin475mg of calcium malate250mg of magnesium malate250mcg of iodine from Icelandic kelp20mg of zinc bisglycinate250mg of choline

There are also compounds that are added for digestion (L-carnitine, Betain HCI, ginger root), detoxification (milk thistle) and provides 15mg of pea protein.

Thorne recently updated their prenatal formula. The most impressive part of this formula is the combination of folinic acid and methylfolate. Folinic acid is connected to the MTHFD1 enzyme, a step before the MTHFR enzyme in the methylation cycle. Supporting both downstream and upstream folate metabolism is the optimal combination because that is how nature designs folate-rich greens. The dosage is 1mg at 1:1 ratio (500mcg of each), making this formula a good choice for those with issues in the MTHFD1 and MTHFR gene as found in the Nutrition Genome Report.

Thorne also updated all their minerals to bisglycinate chelates, which are more stable and have a higher absorption rate. It uses 45mg of iron bisglycinate and 25mg of zinc bisglycinate for those who want a prenatal that addresses low dietary iron or iron levels and zinc intake.

You should be aware that there are some high levels of vitamins like B12, and therefore may only be best for those with absorption issues. While the formula is mostly well designed, some have reported that it makes them nauseous.

Formulation Improvement and/or Additional Nutrition Needed

Does not contain the mixed tocopherols for vitamin E

Contains 1,000IU of vitamin D, but you may need more depending on your current level

*Alex is no longer able to answer comments due to very limited time outside of Nutrition Genome. If you are interested in nutrigenomic testing, please check out www.nutritiongenome.com

377 Comments

Marty
on December 8, 2016 at 1:24 pm

Hi Alex;
Regarding the Seeking Health product, I believe you have the statement about iron and copper reversed. It has very little copper at 0.75 mg per serving (8 pills) and no iron.

Thanks again for the great work!

Alex Swanson
on December 8, 2016 at 2:12 pm

Hi Marty,

The product I have listed here is actually the Optimal Prenatal Powder, which differs slightly from the Optimal Prenatal capsules. The powder does not contain any copper and has 4mg of iron. You are correct about the capsules having no iron and 0.75mg of copper.

Maria
on January 7, 2018 at 11:41 am

Hi Alex!

What is your opinion about seeking health optimal prenatal 240 caps? I take this prenatal because I have an optimal level of iron and I do not need extra more.

Alex Swanson
on January 8, 2018 at 4:48 am

Hi Maria,

I think this is an okay formula if you need stronger prenatal, but eight capsules is a lot to take daily.

Melanie
on December 8, 2016 at 9:03 pm

Alex, when will the Naturelo Prenatal be available? Thanks for your excellent articles on the best and worst vitamins. Very helpful!

Alex Swanson
on December 9, 2016 at 9:45 am

Hi Melanie,

The Naturelo Prenatal was slated for December 15th, but it is now delayed until January 4th. They reached out to me for my opinion of their formula and I offered ways they could improve it. They decided to make those changes, so that’s why the release date got pushed later.

Alla
on November 12, 2017 at 8:04 pm

Hi there

I’m looking for a post natal multivitamin. I’m currently nursing too. I have a 6m old. I’ve been using my prenatal vitamin so far but feel the levels are wrong and looking for a natural organic based one. Would you have any suggestions? Thank you!

marty
on December 30, 2016 at 9:58 am

Hi Alex;
The Naturelo Prenatal is now listed on their webpage. Be great to get your assessment of it and any additions that may compliment the formula (e.g. omega 3, more choline, more vitamin D3 etc.).

thanks,
Marty

Alex Swanson
on January 3, 2017 at 12:27 pm

Hi Marty,

Yes, I’ve been a little behind lately due to multiple projects. I plan on completing the analysis on the Naturelo Prenatal this week.

Renata
on October 5, 2017 at 12:44 am

Hello! Would you mind comparing seeking health prenatal (not the powder) with the naturello prenatal?! I just think that taking 8 capsules everyday its a little bit to much regarding that i still have to take some other vitamins suck as dna and probiotics!

Alex Swanson
on October 9, 2017 at 9:18 pm

Hi Renata,

The Seeking Health Prenatal capsules have certain vitamins and minerals that are much higher than the Naturelo prenatal. Some of these may be unnecessarily high. My opinion is that the 8 capsule dosage is too high, especially because you still need DHA. I think the Naturelo Prenatal combined with the Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA is the best combination.

Alex Swanson
on January 6, 2017 at 9:26 am

Hi Marty,

I was able to update the article with the information about the Naturelo Prenatal last night. Cheers.

Alison
on January 13, 2017 at 8:14 pm

I’ve already had my baby – he is 4 months old now. I took New Chapter Prefect prenatal all through my pregnancy (I notice those don’t come up in your reviews…I would be curious to hear how you would rate that company – theirs are the cultured variety). I switched to Seeking Health capsules just after my son was born, as I discovered Dr. Ben Lynch’s website and was very impressed with his research. I’m glad they got on your list. My question is – how long after giving birth would you recommend taking a prenatal? I’m almost out of my Seeking Health, and debating whether to keep purchasing prenatals or just go with a good multi. I’m still breastfeeding exclusively, and plan to do so for at least 2 years. Would you recommend a prenatal as long as I’m still breastfeeding? Thanks for your well researched articles!

Alex Swanson
on January 16, 2017 at 6:22 pm

Hi Alison,

Yes, I would recommend using the prenatal until you are finished breastfeeding. You are very welcome. Glad you found the article and found it informative.

Alex Swanson
on January 17, 2017 at 6:03 am

Regarding New Chapter Perfect Prenatal, the company was bought by Proctor and Gamble a few years back. If you look at the label, you will see some very cheap and poorly absorbed forms of vitamins used in the culture (magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, cyanocobalamin and folic acid and pyridoxine hydrochloride). So this isn’t one I would recommend.

Alison
on January 17, 2017 at 3:46 pm

Thanks Alex….that is good to know! Glad I switched. Thankfully I was also taking fermented cod liver oil, dessicated liver capsules plus a separate magnesium citrate supplement, so hopefully this provided some additional support. I ditched the extra folic acid after reading Dr Lynch and just upped my greens! I will go with the Naturelo one you reviewed above, it looks like the company has put much more thought into their quality.

It has 11 strains and 50 billion CFU for a good price. Looks good to me.

Cannelle
on January 16, 2017 at 12:47 pm

Hi Alex,

As I told you before I have been taking Front Runner’s baby’s best start prenatal for 3 months and I just found out I’m pregnant :)!!
I just wanted to ask you do you know if they were tasted by a separate lab? I just want to make sure now that I’m pregnant I’m taking the best possible care.
I am also taking Nordic Natural prenatal DHA separately.
Thank you in advance!

Alex Swanson
on January 16, 2017 at 3:14 pm

Hi Cannelle,

Congratulations!! It is tested within their lab and is subject to FDA regulations, however, it is not tested by an independent third party.

Cannelle Mermet
on January 16, 2017 at 8:17 pm

Thanks Alex, is megafood tested by a third party lab?

Alex Swanson
on January 18, 2017 at 8:31 am

Hi Cannelle,

Yes, MegaFood has a third party verification of their products.

Cannelle Mermet
on January 16, 2017 at 8:25 pm

I know you recommend them so obviously you believe in them but do you think it’s still ok to take even though they are not tested?

Alex Swanson
on January 18, 2017 at 8:54 am

Hi Cannelle,

They followed up with me and clarified their first answer, and said it is tested within their own lab by a third party. They are a small company and I haven’t been given any indication that they are not holding high standards to testing their product.

Cannelle
on January 18, 2017 at 3:34 pm

Hi Alex,

Thanks a lot for your answer. I also reached out and this was their answer:
The lab provides in-house 3rd party testing for our supplements. The in-hourse labs are fully accredited and follow USP guidelines and are ISO certified.
We have total confidence in the manufacturing lab as they produce exceptionally high supplements and worked with the FDA to create guidelines for all supplement manufacturers.
I definitely feel confident now.
Thanks again!

Elizabeth
on January 19, 2017 at 10:32 am

To supplement DHA, what fish oil would you recommend?

Alex Swanson
on January 19, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Hi Elizabeth,

Nordic Naturals makes a good prenatal DHA.

Marg
on January 20, 2017 at 11:35 am

Hi,

Great article, thank you for your honest advice. I must admit after spending hours online looking for something I am still very unsure what supplement would suit our situation.

My husband (44) and I (37) have been trying to conceive for a few years, much to our disappointment it’s not happened naturally. Even though our tests have all came back normal. Our diagnosis ‘unexplained infertility’. We’ve currently started IVF, now day 8 of Buseraline (Down regulating shots). I also suffer with Superficial Endometriosis and gastric problems (IBS and I did have H Pylori). I tried antibiotics they didn’t agree so opted for an alternative route and stuck to a healthy balanced diet, which has helped. I’m not completely over it, but better than before. It’s all bearable, hopefully it stays like this as I can tolerate it.

Quick question about prenatal supplements: I need to change from Pregnacare liquid to another. As it’s not agreeing with me. (I can’t swallow pills but ok with liquid or capsules dispersed in liquid). I eat a nutrient dense and healthy diet. Looking for a folate/whole food/possible dha has all key nutrients. Kind on the system. Can take 1/2 a day as opposed to 4+

Are certain supplements that aren’t standard like Rosita cod liver oil, 5 HTP progesterone cream, vitex, etc wise to take for conception? I see lots of women taking all in ones while others take individual supplements.

Apart from Naturelo, I have also seen the below.Which would be best given my circumstances?

What to take to increase fertility really depends on what the women or man needs. For example, progesterone and Vitex are needed for women with low progesterone, while other women may need help with their thyroid for fertility.

1. Wild Nutrition: This one claims that the folic acid as naturally occurring folate. I would double check with the company on whether it is synthetic folic acid or folate like methylfolate. Folic acid is not natural. I’m impressed the formula uses cordyceps mushrooms. They do not classify the forms of each vitamin so it is hard for me to determine if they are using the right form of B12, zinc etc. From a first glance, this looks like the best one of the four if the folate is indeed natural and the correct forms of other vitamins and minerals are used.

2. Zitawest: I’m not crazy about the additives like soy oil and corn starch. It also uses dl-alpha-tocopheral which is synthetic vitamin E. You want to avoid that form.

3. Prenatal Assist: This uses zinc oxide, cyanocobalamin, and folic acid. All poor forms. Also only has 400IU of vitamin D.

4. Prenatal Multi + DHA: Also uses zinc oxide, cyanocobalamin and has low vitamin D (400IU). It is better to purchase EPA and DHA fish oil as a separate product so you get the right dosage. This only has 27.3 mg of DHA which isn’t nearly enough.

Marg
on January 20, 2017 at 9:49 pm

Hi,

Many thanks for your prompt response, I will definitely read your other related articles. The only other few things that I may consider taking along with my nutrient dense and balanced diet.

In summary is what I’ve addded as extra ok/safe to use?
You mention the DHA/EPA, which brand would you recommend?
Which male supplements are top?
I have contacted WN asking for an ingredients composition. I will probably hear back Monday. Will keep you posted.

Alex Swanson
on January 21, 2017 at 9:48 am

Hi Marge,

Definitely read the first article link, which goes into the research on some of those nutrients you have mentioned. That level of zinc is right at the threshold of the safe upper limit, so it isn’t something I would feel comfortable taking for an extended period of time. Along with diet, 15mg of zinc from supplementation is sufficient for most people with a healthy digestive system. The form of folate is still synthetic folic acid, which may block folate receptors for people with common variants in the MTHFR and DHFR genes (could affect fertility). Methylfolate is a better form that occurs in food.

For EPA/DHA, I recommend the Nordic Naturals prenatal DHA. Take a look at the Nutrition Genome article I linked for the most important nutrients for male fertility.

Marg
on January 22, 2017 at 1:54 pm

Hi,

Many thanks. The link I sent previously was a supplement I saw for my husband to use. Would those levels of zinc & folic still apply?

I’m still awaiting a reply from Wild Nutrition regarding the female supplement and its ingredient composition. I will forward to you just to double check it’s safe to use. Failing that I will order the Naturelo if it’s available in UK.

Your advice has been very helpful, very much appreciated. Do you offer a service to work with couples regarding nutrition and pregnancy etc. If so I’d like to find out more.

Alex Swanson
on January 22, 2017 at 5:42 pm

Hi Marg,

Yes, that would still apply for your husband.

You are very welcome. Yes, my genetic nutrition practice is called Nutrition Genome. I have done infertility programs for couples by doing a nutrigenomic analysis, which helps you see where your vitamin, mineral or other compound needs may be higher for fertility (or sensitivities that may affect fertility). This helps you customize your nutrition/supplement plan based on your genetics and biochemistry. You can read more about it here: https://nutritiongenome.com/about/

Marg
on January 23, 2017 at 9:01 am

Many thanks again. I have looked at the details and will look at firstly getting the 123 testing done then go from there. I’m over in the UK.

Wild Nutrition have come back to me with the ingredient composition for their female and male fertility products. Would you mind taking a look to see if they still fall as a good one to use. They’ve told me to supplement with extra Bcomplex Vit D, Omega and magnesium and husband with Zinc and selenium.

Are these the same links as before? It looks like these are using the yeast/broth process like Garden of Life. The main question you want to ask for this product is if methylfolate and methylcobalamin are the forms of folate and B12 used.

Marg
on January 24, 2017 at 7:54 pm

Ok I will have to contact them again. Looking at this it says
Mineral enhanced yeast (no live yeast used). As for folate or B can’t see specifics other then naturally occurring folate. It’s all so vague which has got me thinking.

Failing this I’ve no idea what other supplement is good or safe to use. All of the U.K. ones seem to have folic, not enough of one thing or too much of another. Synthetically processed with crap added.

Naturelo are my only option. Hopefully they ship to UK.

Leaves me asking what do I choose for my husband then?

Alex Swanson
on January 25, 2017 at 9:15 am

Hi Marg,

If you choose Naturelo he can use the Men’s multivitamin from them. They do ship to the UK. I have been searching for local alternatives in the UK, but I haven’t seen a viable prenatal option that I would recommend.

Marg
on January 25, 2017 at 9:24 am

Great I will order them. Many thanks for your time. It’s been of great use. Your knowledge in this misty area is invaluable I will make sure to spread the word. As I’m sure there are many couples out there confused as to what to take at such an important time in their lives. Best wishes

Cannelle Mermet
on January 29, 2017 at 12:43 am

Hi Alex,
I am taking frontrunner Health with Nordics Natural DHA. Do you think I need to supplement with something else like vitamin D? If so which one do you recommend?
I get sunlight daily walking around (I live in Tahiti).
Thanks 🙂

Alex Swanson
on January 30, 2017 at 10:54 am

Hi Cannelle,

No, I wouldn’t worry about vitamin D if you are in Tahiti! Those vitamin D guidelines are mainly for women who are deficient, in a climate without much sun or are not able to get outside enough. Make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium. I’m not sure if your water is higher in minerals there, but those are two important minerals that are needed in higher amounts.

Cannelle
on February 1, 2017 at 12:38 pm

Hi Alex,
Ok thank you so much, I won’t be taking vitamin D then but I will definitely buy water with more calcium and magnesium 🙂
Thank you for all your help!

Dianah
on January 31, 2017 at 2:44 pm

Hi Alex, I’m switching prenatal vitamins and am trying to decide between Thorne Research Prenatal and Naturelo. Can you tell me why Thorne didn’t make your list? Naturelo is not a company I’m familiar with, but Thorne I am.

Alex Swanson
on January 31, 2017 at 4:35 pm

Hi Dianah,

The Thorne Research Prenatal is a little high with the iron and methylfolate. It also has a reputation for digestive upset and nausea.

Cannelle Mermet
on February 1, 2017 at 11:16 pm

Me again Alex sorry for all the questions. Frontrunner Health does not contain any Choline, is that a problem?
I did order a bottle of Naturelo based on your recommendation to try it out. Is it fine to switch prenatal now? I’m 7 weeks pregnant.
Finally I know they have an incredible range of vitamins but do they have 3rd party testing? I’m a little worried about trying a prenatal from a brand new company with no feedbacks from pregnant women.

Alex Swanson
on February 2, 2017 at 2:10 pm

Hi Cannelle,

I prefer you get choline from the diet if possible. If not, then supplementation becomes more important for choline. I see no issue switching Prenatals, but if the Frontrunner product is working for you, there may not be a need to switch. Naturelo currently does testing internally, but are moving to third party testing in the next few months. I reviewed their Certificate of Analysis and they reject any ingredients from suppliers that have detectable amounts of heavy metals.

Tina
on February 6, 2017 at 3:19 pm

Hi Alex, I’m switching prenatals and I think I’m gonna go for the Naturelo ones, but I’m trying to find supplements for the other things you mentioned as well
(You may require more vitamin D (check your levels early), dietary calcium, DHA from fish oil and dietary choline).

So I have some questions…
1. I checked Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA, they contain 15IU Vitamin E. Would that combined with what’s in Naturelo (30IU) be to much?
2. Would you suggest taking more Iron as well and which one?
3. Would you suggest taking cod liver oil for vit A?
4. Or could I just take cod liver oil and cover vit A and DHA with that?

I hope all this makes sense.
Thank you very much.

Alex Swanson
on February 7, 2017 at 12:01 pm

Hi Tina,

1. No, I wouldn’t be concerned about 15IU. Potential issues appear to be over 400IU. The 30IU is a general target.
2. Iron supplementation is dependent on your dietary iron intake and blood levels. I would check your bloodwork before supplementing with more iron. You want to avoid iron levels that are too low and too high.
3/4. Cod liver oil does cover vitamin A and DHA. I think it is an excellent choice if your dietary vitamin A is low.

Tina
on February 7, 2017 at 12:36 pm

Hey Alex, thank you for the reply, very much appreciated. Do you perhaps have a suggestion for vitamins for my partner maybe? We have been trying to get pregnant for over a year with a miscarriage last May. So something basic I guess. Thanks.

Alex Swanson
on February 7, 2017 at 12:51 pm

Hi Tina,

You are welcome. Yes, I would recommend the Naturelo Men’s multivitamin explained here.

I also have written a fertility article on Nutrition Genome found here.

Tina
on February 7, 2017 at 1:13 pm

Thank you Alex. You are doing a really great job and making a difference in a lot of people’s lives.

Alex Swanson
on February 7, 2017 at 4:19 pm

Hi Tina,

I appreciate that, thank you! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Charles
on February 7, 2017 at 8:42 pm

Hi, Alex, thanks for your article and recommendations. I’m planning to take Naturelo Prenatal Whole Food Multivitamin for my wife, she’s pregnant. But after I’ve done some researches about Naturelo, I can only find it here and http://www.multivitaminguide.org, no results about it from FDA website. And it’s rated as Grade F on FakeSpot.
After all this is for my wife and unborn baby, I don’t want them to take any risks by taking Naturelo. Can you please provide anything authoritative about Neturelo? Thanks.

Alex Swanson
on February 8, 2017 at 7:29 am

Hi Charles,

I had the same question when coming across FakeSpot and contacted the company. Apparently last year, Amazon got serious about fake reviews and now immediately delete any review that could possibly be fake. I can only comment on my own independent analysis of the Naturelo and the product. I have been in continuous contact with the company with a legion of questions – which they have given thoughtful and knowledgeable answers – found the forms of the vitamins and minerals to be highest based on quality and absorption, and verified their Certificate of Analysis. While I feel comfortable with the integrity of the product, there are other choices in this article that are also suitable. I would be much more concerned with the massive use of the often recommended One-A-Day and Centrum prenatal.

Charles
on February 8, 2017 at 6:59 pm

Thank you very much Alex! My wife is taking One-A-Day now, I wanted her to take better prenatal supplements. But if current one is good enough, I’ll let her keep using One-A-Day.

Alex Swanson
on February 8, 2017 at 7:47 pm

Hi Charles,

I think there might have been some confusion. One-A-Day is on the worst list.

L Schober
on February 8, 2017 at 10:56 am

With regard to the Naturelo prenatal vitamin, is there a concern with lead levels since this is an algae based calcium? And, as far as the natural form of Niacin noted on their label; can you be more specific? Would that be considered Niacinamde, which is preferable over Niacin? If not, is this Niacin considered to be flush free? Thiamin is generally considered best if it is Benfotiamine. Is that what this is? Again, specifically naming what “natural” actually is would be helpful.

Alex Swanson
on February 8, 2017 at 4:06 pm

Hi L,

Good question and I understand your concern. Let me explain why I do not see an issue. I reviewed the spec sheet of the algae based calcium and according to the formula details, 10% (or 35 mg) of the calcium comes from Aquamin and 90% comes from citrate-malate and ascorbate. 35 mg of Aquamin represents only 1.5% of the total volume of one serving of the Prenatal. For pregnant women, the U.S. FDA’s provisional total tolerable intake level for lead is 25 mcg (25.0ppm) daily. It is 75 mcg for regular adults. According to the spec sheet, there is 0.3 ppm of lead per milligram. Multiply 0.3 ppm by 35 mg and you get less than 1 mcg of lead per daily dose. Now factor in that calcium blocks lead uptake and vitamin C reduces blood lead levels. Another reason to get higher amounts of both during pregnancy since lead exposure is greater in our environment due to air and water pollution.

Regarding the B-vitamins, I made the same suggestion to the company to use the forms instead of the word “natural.” If you look at their other multivitamins, they are listed there. The B-vitamins are made via fermentation. Niacin is niacinamide and thiamin is mononitrate.

L Schober
on February 9, 2017 at 9:44 am

Thank you, Alex! I also reached out to them and here is a bit more info (their prompt reply to my questions, copy and pasted below, for everyone’s benefit):

“Aquamin is sourced from algae harvested off the coast of Iceland and is processed in a facility in Ireland before being brought into the US. Since Ireland is part of the EU, they follow very stringent safety standards which are tougher than the ones here in the US.

I am not sure why Mononitrate was chosen as the source of Thiamin. My guess is that Benfotiamine was more difficult to obtain, but I will send a request to our R&D manager to look into it further and consider it for future inclusion into our formula.

I am not aware of any of our ingredients causing constipation, nausea or headache. The ingredients we use in the Prenatal multivitamin are the same as the ones we use in our Whole Food Multivitamin for Women and we have never had any similar complaints about that product.

All our products come with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee so if your daughter experiences any side effects we can give you a full refund.”

Also, they are doing third-party testing now and the results should be available within 2 weeks.

I must comment that they do have prompt and efficient customer service!

Alex Swanson
on February 9, 2017 at 9:54 am

Hi L,

Thank you for including this information. Yes, they by far have the best customer service that I have seen for a supplement company.

Brittany
on February 23, 2017 at 5:55 am

Do you have any thoughts/comments on USANA prenatals/multivitamins?

Alex Swanson
on February 23, 2017 at 10:09 am

Hi Brittany,

The USANA prenatal (Prenatal CellSentials Vita-Antioxidant) I reviewed uses folic acid and cyanocobalamin, so this isn’t one I recommend. The same is true of the multivitamin.

Cannelle
on March 6, 2017 at 1:02 pm

Hi Alex,
I was wondering, I am lactose intolerant and therefore not eating any dairy. I am now 11 weeks pregnant, do you think I need to supplement for calcium?
How much mineral water should I drink to make sure I am not calcium or magnesium efficient?
Thank you so much,
Cannelle

Alex Swanson
on March 6, 2017 at 3:31 pm

Hi Cannelle,

Our bones were very healthy before the introduction of dairy, so I wouldn’t worry about that. Fish with bones, dark leafy greens like collard greens, almonds, along with mineral water that is higher in calcium are the best sources. How much you need to drink or if you need to supplement would depend on how much calcium you are getting from your diet. If you are concerned you aren’t getting enough, you can definitely supplement with calcium and magnesium.

Cannelle
on March 7, 2017 at 12:31 pm

Thanks Alex, I will try to eat a maximum of calcium and magnesium in my diet. If I don’t have enough which supplement would you recommend for calcium and magnesium?

Alex Swanson
on March 7, 2017 at 12:50 pm

Hi Cannelle,

If you want one with calcium and magnesium, Thorne Research Calcium-Magnesium Citramate 1:1 is a good product. Leg cramps and acid reflux in the second and third trimester are a sign you aren’t getting enough.

Jericka
on March 15, 2017 at 4:50 pm

I’ve used the recommendations from your site to seek out a prenatal vitamin (even ones not on your list). Curious to know if you’ve seen the ACTIF brand and what your opinion is?
Also, I have low B12 confirmed by a blood test. I do the monthly injections of 1ml of cyanocobalamin. What is your opinion of continuing those injections while trying to become pregnant or even during pregnancy? Thanks

Alex Swanson
on March 17, 2017 at 11:02 am

Hi Jericka,

I have seen the ACTIF brand. The prenatal is an interesting formula and I’m curious about the absorption of some of their forms of vitamins and minerals. I wouldn’t rely on D2 for vitamin D. D3 should be used. The EPA and DHA amount is not enough to cover prenatal needs.

I think that injections of cyanocobalamin during pregnancy could be problematic based on the research stated in this article under B12. It would be better to find out why you have low B12 in the first place (deficiencies in folate, iron, calcium, lithium, poor gut bacteria, etc.). Figuring these things out is actually what nutrigenomic testing is for and could help you prevent any issues during pregnancy.

Nathalia
on March 19, 2017 at 2:09 pm

Hello, I am originally from Brazil and have a 3 year old boy. Took prenatal vitamines while pregnant also a liquid vitamine for Iron supplementation. The brands were Bellybar Chewable Prenantals and Floradix, respectively. What is your opinion on those? My red blood count is low so I took Floradix on my own. Also, I rather liquid or chewable forms of vitamines. Thank you so much for all the info!

Alex Swanson
on March 24, 2017 at 8:44 am

Hi Nathalia,

The Bellybar Chewable Prenatal uses folic acid, cyanocobalamin, a poorly absorbed form of zinc called zinc oxide and is missing iodine(!), vitamin K, magnesium, and selenium.

There is 27mg of iron pentacarbonyl in Bellybar, and it appears you are not absorbing it. Floradix is adding more cyanocobalamin along with the iron gluconate.

You would be better off with a higher quality prenatal like Naturelo and an iron supplement without cyanocobalamin.

Ally
on March 27, 2017 at 2:08 pm

I searched, but I didn’t find a recommendation if you have one – what’s a good iron supplement?

Alex Swanson
on March 27, 2017 at 3:14 pm

Hi Ally,

I recommend Iron Bisglycinate. I added it to this article along with a study supporting it.

Nathalia Williams
on March 29, 2017 at 3:59 am

thank you.

ac
on March 28, 2017 at 5:43 pm

Hello. I am split between taking Frontrunner’s prenatal and Naturelo prenatal. I have been trying to research for reviews and feedback on the Naturelo brand, but I haven’t really found any with the exception of Amazon. Being such a great product according to their ingredients, shouldn’t this be of concern? How can i make sure that if i choose to purchase this prenatal, that i will be receiving the stated value in their supplement facts? Also, what does “Natural” mean? Is it made with yeast? Then, in regards to Frontrunner’s brand, is their lack of Vitamin D, B6 and Zinc be of concern to me?

Also, if i at times suffer from leg cramps, is there a specific testing i should have done by my dr. to make sure that i need additional supplements? And if i am Vitamin D deficient, having a result of 17, should i be consuming additional Vitamin D?

As you can probably tell, I am new to this and would appreciate your feedback if possible. I am trying to conceive and I want to make sure that i take the best informed decision to make sure that i am taking the best possible supplement. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Alex Swanson
on March 29, 2017 at 9:49 am

Hi AC,

All good questions. I’ll try my best to answer all of them in detail. The Naturelo prenatal product was just launched in January, so the reviews are just beginning to be posted. You can see the reviews of their other multivitamin products online as well. To find out if you are receiving the stated value in the supplement facts, you want to review a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Naturelo sent me their COA and each amount was verified. They also sent me an analysis showing exceedingly low heavy metal count. Natural often means a fermentation process from yeast, which is how B-vitamins are synthesized into a formula along with foods like broccoli that are rich in methylfolate. If you still have concerns, they have excellent customer service and transparency with their products.

For Frontrunners, low vitamin D, B6, and zinc may be an issue depending on your diet and needs. Legs cramps are often a sign of low magnesium levels. The best testing, in my opinion, is nutrigenomic testing. This is done through Nutrition Genome. The analysis tells you where your highest vitamin and mineral needs and allows you to customize your diet and supplementation based on your individual needs. I think this incredible information to have for fertility and pregnancy, especially when folate and choline needs are much higher due to certain genetic variants.

Vitamin D needs to be supplemented separately for people like yourself that are in the deficiency range. You may require 4,000IU daily to get in the healthy range.

Kelsey
on April 17, 2017 at 12:47 pm

So the Naturelo prenatal does have yeast? Or not?

I’m taking mega food baby and me 2 and it has s. Cerevisiae which is causing me some yeast issues, even though they say that isn’t possible. So I need something without yeast.

Alex Swanson
on April 17, 2017 at 3:46 pm

Hi Kelsey,

Naturelo is yeast free. The B-vitamins are produced via fermentation of probiotics.

Samantha
on April 21, 2017 at 7:59 am

Do you have any suggestions for a choline supplement?

I have a strong family history of schizophrenia and I’m trying to find a way to supplement my choline intake. I don’t like eggs and I’m a vegetarian. I’m hoping to force myself to eat eggs once I become pregnant but I’m nervous I won’t be able to eat enough of them. Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on April 21, 2017 at 5:35 pm

Hi Samantha,

Thorne Research and Seeking Health make a phosphatidylcholine product. If schizophrenia runs in the family, it is also important to avoid gluten during pregnancy. I would recommend reading my mental health article that goes more in-depth.

Samantha
on April 21, 2017 at 7:50 pm

Thank you so much for your help Alex! I will definitely look into both of the choline supplements you recommend. Have you heard anything about the product Nutrasal PhosChol? I was looking at that one because the dosage was higher & in the study referenced they used a high amount of choline. Cutting back on gluten will be a challenge but I’m definitely willing to try.

Alex Swanson
on April 23, 2017 at 8:43 am

Hi Samantha,

I haven’t heard of that one. It might be a little strong as one dose. If it affects your sleep then it is too strong for you.

Debora
on April 26, 2017 at 5:22 pm

Thank you for this article. I’ve been taking Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal, but will be switching to Naturelo after hearing so many good things. Nonetheless, I am curious to know your thoughts on Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal.

Colleen
on May 6, 2017 at 9:11 am

Hello there, I’ve read recommendations to take prenatal vitamins months before trying to conceive (some say 3 months). Base on your replies to other comments, I think I can safely assume that you believe that there’s value doing so too. Wanted to find out if you think there’s a need to start with DHA supplements early on as well or can that be left to after being pregnant? Also, I was reading up on Labdoor’s review of Nordic Natural Prenatals DHA (https://labdoor.com/review/nordic-naturals-prenatal-dha) and their review is that while the product met all purity standards, it saw EPA measure at 87.78% off its label claim. I then went to their rankings of other fish oils (https://labdoor.com/rankings/fish-oil), would you recommend using other brands that have a better measure of its label claim? Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on May 9, 2017 at 10:45 am

Hi Colleen,

Yes, I would start taking fish oil before getting pregnant. Regarding the Labdoor analysis, I contacted Nordic Naturals. They said that every batch has a COA and is tested by a third party. Labeling laws allow a deviation of 10% less or more, however, many companies aim for approximately 3%. For this analysis, Labdoor did not specify the lot number and give any references regarding the testing. Nordic Naturals said that they would be happy to show the COA and third party testing for verification of the amounts if you provide them the lot number of the product.

Just a few years ago, the Nordic Natural Prenatal had 90mg of EPA and 450mg of DHA, and now has 205mg of EPA and 480mg of DHA. If you look at other DHA products on that Labdoor list, you will see the DHA often falls in the mid-200mg range of DHA. I prefer a product to be in the 400mg range of DHA for pregnancy, and I have always found Nordic Naturals to have extremely high standards and a good reputation.

Alex Swanson
on May 10, 2017 at 3:07 pm

Hi Colleen,

I just received a call from Nordic Naturals. They obtained the lot number of the product tested by Labdoor and said that the COA actually shows an EPA count of 101mg and a DHA count of 494mg. So the amounts actually exceeded the amount on the label. It sounds like Nordic Naturals legal team is now getting involved with Labdoor over their claim that the EPA is 87.78% off its label claim.

AC
on May 16, 2017 at 12:53 pm

Hello Alex, taking this into consideration, would you say that Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA is safe for mom and baby to consume although the amounts exceed the amount on the label? I am unsure now and would appreciate your advice. Thanks.

Alex Swanson
on May 16, 2017 at 2:06 pm

Hi AC,

That batch was from 2014 when the amounts were 90mg of EPA and 450mg of DHA on the label. Even so, I wouldn’t worry about that deviation. I had Nordic Naturals send me their March 2017 batch COA and the 205mg and 480mg on the label match with the final product. To give you a frame of reference of EPA and DHA levels in our diet, a 6 oz. portion of wild salmon contains 883 mg of EPA and 1,111 mg of DHA. So if you ate the recommended amount of fish a week (3x), you would get 3,333mg of DHA from wild salmon. If you took the prenatal of 480mg daily, you would get 3,360mg of DHA. Pretty comparable! Higher intake levels have been found in Japanese women during pregnancy without any signs of toxicity.

Mari
on May 22, 2017 at 4:23 pm

I am leaning towards the Naturelo after some extensive research, but I am hesitating because it’s so NEW. Do you think this is a valid concern? I just figure if it is JUST coming out there aren’t enough reviews or long term effects posted anywhere which makes me nervous..

Alex Swanson
on May 24, 2017 at 11:52 am

Hi Mari,

I understand your concern and I think track history is important. Then Women’s One a Day prenatal has been around for decades, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good formula. The Naturelo Whole Food Multivitamins contain the same ingredients as the Prenatal multi and they have over 400 positive reviews on Amazon since the release in 2013. I reached out regarding feedback on the prenatal so far because only about 1% of those who purchase a product leave a review. They said over 1500 woman have purchased the prenatal and have not reported any side effects to the best of their knowledge.

The formulation, forms of vitamins and minerals, COA and heavy metal testing are important for any formula. They have sent me the COA and heavy metal testing, so I have verified it. However, your peace of mind is important and if you feel more comfortable with another formula on this list, that’s no problem. You have to choose what is best for you.

Kelsey
on June 6, 2017 at 7:50 am

I’ve been taking nordic natural prenatal dha. I didn’t start it until right after my son was born. He was born a month premature. I’m trying to get pregnant now again. I switched to Naturelo prenatal based on your review.

I’m wondering if o should continue with nordic natural dha or switch to a cod liver oil? I’ve read cod liver oil can help prevent preterm birth and can also help boost the birth weight of babies.

I don’t thinking stomach a liquid cod liver so would need a capsule. What do you think?

Alex Swanson
on June 6, 2017 at 10:08 am

Hi Kelsey,

Yes, cod liver oil can definitely be used, especially if you aren’t getting enough vitamin A. The cod liver oil I have listed is very palatable, but you could also use capsules.

Het
on June 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm

I am 42, compound heterozygous for MTHFR, and six weeks pregnant. I have been taking the MegaFood Baby & Me 2 for the past four months. I have a history of iron deficiency, and slight vitamin D deficiency. Would you recommend supplementing the Baby & Me 2 with additional folate, iron or D? I started taking 400 mg of Solgar Folate in addition to the Baby & Me 2 a few days ago, and was taking the MegaFood Vitamin D prior to finding out that I was pregnant. Thanks!

Alex Swanson
on June 9, 2017 at 2:28 pm

Hi Het,

Baby & Me 2 only has 600IU of vitamin D and if you are potentially low, higher amounts are required. Iron is hard for me to determine without knowing your current level. I would look at your iron levels (and your vitamin D) with your doctor to determine appropriate supplementation. 600mcg of methylfolate in Baby & Me 2 is likely sufficient for the compound heterozygous MTHFR if you are eating your folate-rich greens, especially when combined with B2, B6, B12, and choline intake.

Thorne just updated their Basic Prental formula at a very competitive price. I have received some feedback that their old formula led to some digestive upset and nausea. The new formula includes a blend of both folinic acid and methylfolate, something I think every formula should do. It has 45mg of iron bisglycinate, so it would be best for those that are low in iron. They also changed all the minerals to bisglycinate chelates, which was a smart move. I will consider adding this one to the best list.

Jaime
on June 14, 2017 at 9:22 am

Hi Alex, Thank you for all your comprehensive research. My wife is now 9 weeks pregnant with twins and was taking the Harmons brands prenatals and then the doctor prescribed (which also had all the bad stuff, how do they not read up on this?). I always like to research what we put in our bodies and I wish I started my research on this earlier. I can’t believe how hard it is to find a prenatal that has everything and the good forms of it all. No wonder we have so many health complications in this country, we start out by giving our children the crappiest prenatals right from birth. Anyway I could go on all day about that so I’ll get to the question. I found your page here and I am very much liking the Naturelo after an exhausting search. My questions is about the K2 in it. Above you mention woman shouldn’t take more than 65mg of K2 while pregnant and I also read k2 my not be good for pregnacy, so why does it have K2 and not K or K1, which it doesn’t have any of? Is there a difference? Thanks so much for all the ifo!

Jaime
on June 14, 2017 at 9:31 am

I forgot to add her doctor told her to take extra folic acid. Do you recommend a certain brand for that? Thanks

Alex Swanson
on June 14, 2017 at 2:59 pm

Hi Jaime,

Did your doctor specifically say folic acid? Methylfolate and folinic acid are the two forms of folate that should be used, not folic acid. See the section on folate in this article and why to avoid folic acid. If your doctor still thinks she should go over 800mcg of methylfolate, I would ask him or her about using folinic acid by Seeking Health. More prenatal formulas are beginning to combine folinic acid and methylfolate to address upstream and downstream folate metabolism for those with folate issues.

Jaime
on June 14, 2017 at 4:06 pm

Yes I have already instructed the wife to stop taking the folic acid until the Naturelo prenatals get here. That and the b12 have been my biggest concerns in a prenatal. I believe he said folic acid but seems some people use the term interchangeably even though I think it shouldnt be because obviously they are different. She unfortunately did buy folic acid, and like I said before I wish I had started this research earlier. But she is only 9 weeks so lucky its still early to switch. We will see him tomorrow and I am going to print out the Seeking Health supplement fact sheet and clear it with him. Thanks for all the help!
Any other big concerns you would advise not yet mentioned in your research? I recently started paying more attention to the water she drinks as well and have found it all to be highly acidic so I ‘m getting a filtration system.

Alex Swanson
on June 14, 2017 at 2:48 pm

Hi Jaime,

I agree and your experience – like many – was a motivational factor for writing this article.

The optimal amount of K2 for pregnancy is still being determined, so the dosage is currently a moving target. Health professionals are now saying 100-200mcg is an optimal amount for supplementation. I think that 65-100mcg is appropriate depending on your dietary intake of K2.

If you look at the amount of K2 in certain foods found here in the figure 4 table, you can see what an average amount would look like per day. I have not seen any evidence that K2 is bad for pregnancy unless there is a blood clotting disorder (Factor 5 Leiden). On the other side, those with irritable bowel disorder, cystic fibrosis, fat malabsorption issues or have taken antibiotics or blood thinners for an extended period of time are more likely to be vitamin K deficient.

There is a difference between K1 and K2. K1 is found in many vegetables and is easy to get from your diet. K1 plays a major role in healthy blood clotting. K2 is a little harder to get depending on your diet and appears to play a role in teeth, cranial and skeletal formation. Current research has also looked at vitamin K2’s role in treating osteoporosis, cancer and preventing calcification of the arteries in adults. K1 is also produced by intestinal bacteria and converted to K2, but how much we obtain this way is up for debate. Based on the foods that are highest in K2 and the poor state of many people’s digestive systems, I would say suboptimal levels are likely for many people.

Jaime
on June 14, 2017 at 4:24 pm

I wasn’t there when he told her so I only know what she said and unfortunately i started all this research after she started taking all the bad pills. But she is only 9 weeks so happy at least we are on the right track now. I will print out the seeking health supplement facts to show him and see what he says. I recently started looking at the water she is drinking an found that it is very acidic so i am getting a filtration system. Any other major suggestions you may have aside from what you have already included in your research above? Thanks for all the help

Alex Swanson
on June 15, 2017 at 10:41 am

Hi Jaimie,

I don’t have any other major suggestions. I have an article on Nutrition Genome regarding pregnancy that you may find interesting, especially regarding gut flora.

Hi Alex,
Hope you’re well. A little update, I am now 25 weeks pregnant and I’ve been taking Nordic Naturals DHA and Front Runner’ s Baby Best Start prenatal since conception and I’ve had a very easy pregnancy so far. 10 days ago I switched to Naturelo based on your recommendation. 4 days ago I was hospitalized for too many contractions and put on IV for 56 hours. They are releasing me today because my cervix is closed and I have to rest (not bedrest but take it easy). I have a pretty small figure and they think it might be causing contractions. All my blood and urine test came back fine. My iron level are low and they gave me iron with folic acid at the hospital and I stopped taking my prenatal since I’ve been there. I think I will go back to taking Frontrunner (just because my body seemed to react very well) but I would like to take iron supplement not sure which one, I don’t want to keep taking the one from the hospital. Do you have any suggestions. Sorry for the long explanation. Thank you so much.
Cannelle

Alex Swanson
on June 15, 2017 at 6:24 pm

Hi Cannelle,

I’m very sorry to hear that but I’m glad you are okay. There are numerous reasons why that could have occurred. The first thought that came to mind was a drop in progesterone, especially if you have a low percentage of body fat. But like I said, there are many possibilities that I’m sure your doctors have attempted to address. It sounds like you were doing great with Frontrunner and you have to do what’s best for your body.

As for iron, I have Iron Bisglycinate by Thorne Research listed in this article as the best one. Let me know if you need anything else.

Cannelle Mermet
on June 15, 2017 at 7:33 pm

Thank you so much Alex. Yes I started my pregnancy at 104 and I am now 114 pounds so maybe that’s it. Actually they did not give me any iron they say my iron is right at the limit but to keep taking my prenatals. I had a small yeast infecfion that they treated but I am still having them. Do you think taking magnesium can help with the contractions?

Alex Swanson
on June 16, 2017 at 7:10 pm

Hi Cannelle,

Magnesium may help with the contractions, but the hormones have to be functioning optimally as well.

Cannelle
on June 18, 2017 at 12:30 am

Would you recommend I take the Thorne Magnesium and Calcium combo or Magnesium Citrate or Magnesium Citramate? Thank you Alex for all your help.

Alex Swanson
on June 18, 2017 at 10:22 am

Hi Cannelle,

I would recommend the Thorne 1:1 Calcium/Magnesium product for pregnancy.

Jessica Perez
on June 16, 2017 at 8:30 pm

Hi Alex, I have researched Mykind Organic one a day prenatal supplements. I am concerned about them not being in capsule form for better absorption & having the correct amounts of each vitamin to be sure that I am not over dosing or under dosing…which could create any issues. I have been supplementing with pure natural forms of separate vitamins in the suggested amounts according to studies proving the harmful affects different dosages. What are your thoughts on this particular product? I am 29, planning to become pregnant, no proir children, & have rid my body of birth control for 10 months in preparation. I was married May 20th and am ready to get pregnant. Thanks!

Alex Swanson
on June 19, 2017 at 1:53 pm

Hi Jessica,

First, I want to say great job of being aware of taking the time to build your reserves before pregnancy. The Garden of Life myKind Organics is one of the only true 100% whole food multivitamins. My main concern is the level and form of zinc, which is poorly absorbed directly from plants to begin with. The same is true of the form of iron.

Jessica Perez
on June 21, 2017 at 12:30 pm

Thank you for your advise Alex. I will further research how to make up for those in a different formula. Would you say The Garden of Life Mykind (one a day) is comparable to your listed Naturelo prenatal? Mykind prenatal is Certified Organic Whole Food; Certified USDA Organic; Non-GMO Project Verified; Whole Foods From Organic Farms & that is important. I like that Garden of Life Mykind has a one a day bottle, but I would consider switching to your suggested prenal Naturelo because I can see how a three a day supplement can be beneficial…if the reasoning behind it is that your body better absorbs at lower doses several times throughout the day. What is your opinion in comparison of products to reap the full benefits?

Alex Swanson
on June 24, 2017 at 10:40 pm

Hi Jessica,

I would say there are some similarities. If you choose the Mykind, be aware that you will need extra calcium, magnesium and potentially zinc. Yes, it is advantageous to spread out the dosage to maximize the absorption potential.

Hi Alex, I am currently using seeking health optimal prenatal capsules and am 10 weeks pregnant. I am also taking Nordic dha. However I find it hard to take 8 capsules daily and usually don’t get the full 8. I was thinking of trying Thera natal complete prenatal vitamin. Is this a good choice?

Alex Swanson
on June 22, 2017 at 8:12 am

Hi Justyna,

The Theralogix prenatal uses folic acid and cyanocobalamin, so it isn’t one I recommend. Is that the correct one?

Jess
on June 24, 2017 at 12:36 am

Hi Alex,
I am considering the switch to Naturelo prenatal since they seem to have all of the right vitamins & nutrients needed for planning our pregnancy. However, my concern lies where the sources are labeled as natural whole food. I am concerned about insecticides & pesticides in the supplements since I haven’t seen any evidence of Naturelo being a USDA certified organic prenatal. I’ve have trouble finding an organic whole food prenatal with all of the needed vitamins, nutrients, or minerals with the amounts recommended or similar amounts. Do you have a certified organic recommendation similar to the amounts & vitamins listed in Naturelo?

Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on June 24, 2017 at 11:00 pm

Hi Jess,

I am not aware of a USDA certified organic prenatal with a similar formula to Naturelo, otherwise, I would definitely list it. Many companies use third party testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides and do not go through the certification process because it increases the price of the formula to the consumer. MegaFood is a good example of doing extensive testing for pesticides and herbicides (but not certified organic) while being non-GMO certified and kosher certified. I think the best approach for you may be to use the Mykind Prenatal and make sure you are getting extra calcium, magnesium, and zinc to better complete the formula.

Het
on July 7, 2017 at 3:27 pm

Hi, I am 9 weeks pregnant, a vegetarian and taking MegaFood’s Baby and Me 2. You don’t mention supplementing with DHA with the MegaFood prenatal. Do you recommend doing so? My doctor thought that I should take DHA if my prenatal does not have it. Thanks!

Alex Swanson
on July 7, 2017 at 3:54 pm

Hi Het,

In the beginning of paragraph under “Best Prenatal Vitamins,” I mention that each prenatal will need additional DHA. But you are right, I need to add a reminder to that product. So yes, definitely add DHA.

Vitamin Code starts with USP vitamins – of which some are synthetically made – and given to yeast in a nutrient rich broth. The finished metabolized product qualifying as a “whole food vitamin” is debatable and there isn’t any research I am aware of that proves this to be advantageous for absorption. From my experience, Garden of Life isn’t as transparent as they should be with their formulations.

Shannon Cassar
on July 18, 2017 at 3:56 pm

Since taking Naturelo prenatal, skin has cleared and I feel great (i am anemic) It does NOT make me constipated like all other vitamins. This is a capsule form vitamin. For some reason i’m so crazy about the smell of the capsule, lol– I love it. My (very very very picky) 6 year old takes the children chewable and my husband takes the men multivitamin. love love love!!!!!!!!

Alex Swanson
on July 20, 2017 at 9:56 pm

Hi Shannon,

Glad to hear it!!

Alicia manalo
on July 20, 2017 at 1:26 am

Hi Alex, i’m so glad to read your article. can you tell me what you think about ACTIF ORGANIC PRENATAL WITH 25+ VITAMINS AND ORGANIC HERBS, NON-GMO? my daughter in law ask me to research her prenatal vitamins. thank you!

Alex Swanson
on July 21, 2017 at 8:57 am

Hi Alica,

The prenatal is an interesting formula and I’m curious about the absorption of some of the forms of vitamins and minerals, including the zinc and iron. Stability is also an issue for this type of process and companies should provide testing after a few months on the shelf. I wouldn’t rely on D2 for vitamin D. D3 should be used. The EPA and DHA amount are not enough to cover prenatal needs.

Cannelle Mermet
on July 21, 2017 at 1:38 pm

Hi Alex,
What do you recommend for postpartum vitamins while breastfeeding?
Thank you 🙂

Alex Swanson
on July 21, 2017 at 1:41 pm

Hi Cannelle,

I recommend continuing with your prenatal and fish oil while breastfeeding.

Cannelle Mermet
on July 21, 2017 at 10:41 pm

Sounds good thank you Alex!

Abbie
on July 25, 2017 at 12:50 pm

Hi Alex! Im 5 weeks pregnant and just ordered Prenatal Vitamins by NutriVital Supplements before reading this. They say they have Blessed thistle and Fenugreek . Ive done some research and it says not to take while pregnant? Is that the case? Im not going to take them since I have chosen to now go by your reconmmendations of the Naturelo and Nordic Natural DHA.

Alex Swanson
on July 25, 2017 at 12:53 pm

Hi Abbie,

From what I’ve read, it appears both blessed thistle and fenugreek should be avoided during pregnancy.

Abbie
on July 25, 2017 at 2:59 pm

Thank you so much Alex! I’m so glad I found this site! It has helped me so much! I’m an over thinker and I just want to do the best for me and the baby. You have put me at ease! Cant thank you enough!

Abbie
on July 25, 2017 at 3:15 pm

Just curious.. Are the Naturelo low in heavy metals? Do they have no harmful additives and are pesticide and herbicide free.?

Alex Swanson
on July 25, 2017 at 5:36 pm

Hi Abbie,

You are very welcome! Yes, they have been tested to be very low in heavy metals, zero harmful additives, and the pesticide/herbicide free confirmation is a separate test that I recommended Naturelo complete.

Heidi O
on July 26, 2017 at 2:58 pm

What’s your review on Melaleuca’s prenatal multivitamin?

Alex Swanson
on July 26, 2017 at 3:28 pm

Hi Heidi,

The Melaleuca prenatal uses synthetic folic acid and cyanocobalamin for folate and B12, so it isn’t one I recommend.

Edi
on August 1, 2017 at 11:25 am

Hi! Very helpful article, thank you. What are your thoughts on Biotics Research Pre- Natal Packs? They seem to be a complete multivitamin and have EPA and DHA already. I live in Hawaii and I am not concerned about lower Vit D dosage and slightly lower fish Omega 3 than your recommendation. The only thing missing from the formula is Choline? Also, I found out that fish oil and other sources of Omega 3 have blood thinning properties, my platelets are already on the low side, which seems to be quite a common problem at different points of pregnancy. Do you think it is possible to intake too much fish oil (I eat fresh fish, seafood, fish roe and canned sardines or mackerels on regular bases). One can of sardines lists EPA at 1380mg and DHA 1720mg. I add salmon fish roe, because it seems to be an excellent source of Vit D it fat soluble form. Should I still supplement every day? Thinking to add Naturelo to alternate with Biotics on the days when I do consume a lot of fish oil. Would that make sense? And thank you for you encouragement to eat organ meats once a week!

Alex Swanson
on August 2, 2017 at 6:22 pm

Hi Edi,

The Biotics Research Prenatal Pack looks pretty good. Based on your diet and location, I would agree that the lower vitamin D and DHA are not a problem for you. It is possible that you could have too much fish oil, especially with a higher seafood intake. I am so impressed you eat fish roe. That is also a source of choline. It is basically the perfect pregnancy food that not many people eat anymore. I’m not sure I could say with complete certainty what the best combination would be due to your platelets. I would check with your doctor, but my initial opinion would be that it may be best to alternate the fish oil supplement. And you are welcome regarding the organ meats! It sounds like you are spot on with the pregnancy diet.

Edi
on August 3, 2017 at 10:08 am

Thank you Alex! Unfortunately, doctors I dealt with know very little about nutrition and supplements. I think women can benefit greatly from your article and other online resources. Good to know about choline in fish roe too!

Courtney
on August 3, 2017 at 8:29 am

Hi Alex, My question was out of all the prenatals you suggested what would be your top- most recommended? I think the first one you recommended I was going to order, so would I need to get the cod liver oil as well for sure?

My other question would be if I have a 3 yr old who has been battling eczema for awhile, and I have done more research then I can comprehend on it, diets, creams, gut health, what would be your top probiotic, or kids vitamin for him? Since he is 3 can he have some of these that suggest 4 and up?

I want to give him cod liver oil as I have heard it can help, is that ok, how much?

When I ask questions about a more natural approach to my docs, they don’t really know or give a good suggestion?. Their answer is just steroids and harmful meds we have not seen help. I love your blog and reviews on these as I can’t handle anymore research, and don’t know what half of it means. Thank you for your help!
P.s I am 6 weeks pregnant and had hypermises gravidarium last pregnancy which was horrendous, so I’m hoping that won’t start soon if you have any recommendations for the help of nausea.

Alex Swanson
on August 3, 2017 at 12:44 pm

Hi Courtney,

The Naturelo Prenatal would be my first choice. You would need to get cod liver oil or fish oil because it doesn’t contain any EPA or DHA.

The BioKult Infantis is the one for babies and children. Eczema can tricky. It can be food allergies (dairy and wheat are common), chemicals in laundry detergents and body products (choose chemical free ones), poor gut flora, zinc deficiency and an omega-3 deficiency.

I haven’t personally seen cod liver oil resolve eczema, so I couldn’t comment on that question. I have seen putting coconut oil on the eczema help clear it.

For the hypermises gravidarium, make sure you are getting enough B6 in the P-5-P form. Higher levels may be needed than is provided by the prenatal, which where your doctor would need to step in. But I’ve seen B6 consistently prevent nausea.

Alex Swanson
on August 4, 2017 at 3:49 pm

Hi Courtney,

I added a new children’s probiotic to the probiotic article for age 3 and up. It is called Pro-Kids.

Courtney
on August 8, 2017 at 12:35 pm

Thanks for adding vitamins for kids under 4. That is very helpful!
Also, you mentioned B6 being good for nausea. What type of pill form or supplement without all the added stuff would you recommend? I hate when I get stuff at even health stores there is so much I don’t want in me with the supplements or vitamins!
I’m not sure what foods sound good depending on the day, and if I could keep anything down I would just try to eat B6 on foods, but since I prob need a pill form or powder, I would love your recommendation.
Just curious what foods are high in B6 as well.?

Thanks so much,

Alex Swanson
on August 9, 2017 at 2:32 pm

Hi Courtney,

Your prenatal can serve as a source of P-5-P if it contains it. There are also isolated P-5-P products but I don’t have any particular recommendation for that one. Since I don’t know much about your health history, I can only say it is a suggestion to run by your doctor.

It would be really interesting for you to do a Nutrition Genome Report and see if there are issues with your B6 metabolism.

hello alex, does WELLNESS ESSENTIALS safe to take during pregnancy???…. i just wanna know. i want the best and the safest prenatal vitamins… plase help

rhojean babe maardencial
on August 11, 2017 at 5:12 am

i mean please help

Alex Swanson
on August 11, 2017 at 11:26 am

Hi Rhojean,

Wellness Essentials by Metagenics (if that is the one you are referring to) contains EGCG from two sources, which blocks the DHFR enzyme in the folate cycle. That could be a potential problem during pregnancy. Green coffee bean extract may also have caffeine. I can’t confirm this formula is safe or not during pregnancy, so I would ask Metagenics.

Jen
on August 17, 2017 at 11:29 pm

Hi Alex, I’ve just come across your site and find the information to be so helpful. I’ve been on a search for the best Prenatal vitamins. I plan to get pregnant and I’ve been taking Pure Synergy Purenatal for the last month or so. I was especially interested in finding something made from organic Whole Foods. I am also taking Rositas virgin cod liver oil and Bio Kult probiotics. I would really love to get your thoughts on these brands and if you think that I’m taking far too much Vitamin A. It is very high in this prenatal compared to Naturelo. I may consider switching to Naturelo. Many thanks!

Alex Swanson
on August 20, 2017 at 12:54 pm

Hi Jen,

Synergy is not very transparent when it comes to their vitamin and mineral formulations. The impression is that the vitamins and minerals are coming from organically grown fruits and vegetables, but they actually use a process like Garden of Life that feeds USP vitamins and minerals to yeast in a broth, then dehydrated fruit and vegetable powders are added. I am not aware of any research that shows this process to be superior for absorption and effectiveness, and I think they are deceiving many customers. A major challenge of dehydrated whole food supplements is stability because just like real food, once processed and left to sit, the vitamins degrade. There are also issues with absorption from certain types of minerals like iron and zinc, which are poorly absorbed from the plant kingdom.

Bio Kult and Rosita’s Virgin Cod Liver oil are both excellent choices and ones I recommend here on various articles.

Hi Alex, I am so happy I have found this article and Q and A section. There is mine field of information, often conflicting and often confusing! Your detailed replies and approach gives me great confidence. my gf is 6 weeks pregnant and is currently advised to take Vitrum prenatal with a supplementary folic/folate tablet. She has done a lot of independent research and wants a more natural vitamin/supplement course during her pregnancy and after. She has been recommended Natures Sunshine. My questions to you are these a) do you know anything about Vitrum Prenatal? b) and as to whether Natures Sushine are any good? After reading your detailed reviews and analysis I am heavily leaning towards Naturelo Prenatal Whole Food Multivitamin. I was just hoping you able to shed some light on the other two I have mentioned so I can talk to my gf as to why both are bad, and why not going in the direction of Natures Sunhine is also not recommended and for what reasons. If you have the time I would greatly appreciate a reply. Many thanks Nick

Alex Swanson
on August 20, 2017 at 12:37 pm

Hi Nick,

Congrats! If the Vitrum label was correct that I found, it contains synthetic folic acid and cyanocobalamin. Same is true of Nature’s Sunshine. You want methylfolate or folinic acid and methylcobalamin. You want to aim for 800mcg of folate total, but not in the folic acid form. Also, Vitrum does not have iodine and Nature’s Sunshine only has 75mcg. You want to see at least 150mcg of iodine. Scroll to the iodine, folate, B12 section of this article and your girlfriend will see why these points are important.

Nicholas Alexander
on August 20, 2017 at 12:53 pm

Ty very much Alex for your reply! It’s very kind of you to take the time to reply to ev1. Very much appreciated. Ty again.

Alex Swanson
on August 21, 2017 at 4:26 pm

You’re welcome! Thanks for the ingredient list. Yes, I would find a different one.

Nicholas Alexander
on October 24, 2017 at 10:31 pm

hi Alex

I commented earlier. Ty so much for earlier replies. My gf is now 4 months pregnant. She has been using the Naturelo Prenatal Whole Food Multivitamin recommended.

Recently she has been encouraged to take a iodine supplement. Not due to any blood work, but more of a case of her doctor recommending to all pregnant women.

Looking at the contents of Naturelo, i see dosage is 150micrograms, yet its generally accepted that 200-250 is good for pregnant women. ( sometimes even more).

what do u consider to be a good /safe limit? Is Naturelo only 150 as you’d expect the ‘extra’ to be made up in dietary food sources?

(i am finding out today what dosage the additional iodine supplement contains she is taking).

Alex Swanson
on October 24, 2017 at 11:21 pm

Hi Nicholas,

150mcg has been the standard for multivitamins and prenatal vitamins while factoring in dietary iodine. Your girlfriend’s daily dietary intake of iodine will depend mainly on her seaweed, seafood, and egg intake. I would agree that 200-250mcg is a good target for many during pregnancy as stated in the article. In terms of a safe upper limit, that has been set at 1,100mcg daily by NIH. In Japan, 1,000-3,000mcg is the daily intake. I’m not saying this as a recommendation for everyone to consume that much, but there are genetic and other dietary factors at play that helps determine optimal iodine intake per person.

Nicholas Alexander
on August 20, 2017 at 12:59 pm

ps: these seems to be the composition of Vitrum Prenatal: Vitrum Prenatal Forte forms, composition and dosages:

Hi! Thank you so much for such valuable information. Have you heard of Metagenics Wellness Essentials Pregnancy? If so, what is your opinion on them? They are extremely pricy and Im looking for comparable vitamins at a lower cost point.

Alex Swanson
on August 29, 2017 at 10:14 am

Hi Faiza,

I think the Metagenics Wellness Essentials pregnancy formula would rank as “okay.” There are a lot of things they do right, including the choline addition and the right amount of DHA. They use a form of magnesium (oxide) where only 4% is absorbed. I’m not crazy about the aspartate forms of selenium and molybdenum because they are excitatory. The folate and B12 are on the high side, but the right form. This packet requires 7 supplements, which can be a lot to stomach while you are pregnant. However, if you are okay with this amount, I would be more inclined to make my own custom pack of all the best ones with the right forms and amounts of everything.

Kendra
on August 31, 2017 at 7:05 pm

Hi Alex!

What’s your opinion on Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Vitamin?

Alex Swanson
on August 31, 2017 at 7:11 pm

Hi Kendra,

It is listed at #4 at the bottom of the article.

Ruchi
on September 4, 2017 at 3:17 pm

Hello Alex,
I had Mthfr A1298C single mutation, also borderline Protein S deficiency. My mfm recommend to take baby aspirin while trying and lovenox during pregnancy. I also have Hyperthyroidism ( Graves disease). I am looking for a good prenatal that is suitable for me.
I am worried about Vitamin K, iodine and selenium.
Would you recommend me to take vitamin k while on blood thinner? Do you think Vitamin K2 is better for me than vitamin K1.
In your opinion, which is best prenatal for me.
Also do you recommend me to take DHA before pregnancy. Does it affect my thyroid. Any vegetarian or vegan dha supplement you recommend.
Thank you so much.

Alex Swanson
on September 11, 2017 at 9:04 am

Hi Ruchi,

Sorry for the delay! It is my understanding that Lovenox does not have the same issue with vitamin K as the blood thinner Warfarin. I would double check with your doctor, but I don’t believe you have to be concerned with vitamin K1 or K2.

Avoiding iodine and selenium is an issue during pregnancy due to the importance of both of them, especially iodine. The typical prenatal is going to have iodine and selenium. DHA shouldn’t negatively affect your thyroid. Yes, Nordic Naturals makes an algae-based DHA.

This is a tough recommendation because it requires someone with access to your health history like your doctor. You will likely need to take separate products like a B-complex, vitamin D, fish oil, calcium/magnesium with trace minerals and potentially choline based on your diet if you want to avoid iodine and selenium in a supplement. I’m not aware of a prenatal that omits iodine and selenium that also is well formulated with the right forms of the B-vitamins.

Hi Alex do you know anything about Carlsons superior DHA ? It was recommended to me over Nordic naturals prenatal DHA …

Alex Swanson
on September 13, 2017 at 8:46 am

Hi Justyna,

I don’t see anything that would make Carlson’s better than Nordic Naturals. The Nordic Naturals product has a better EPA and DHA ratio, along with being a full spectrum oil containing the other omega’s.

Thanks Alex. I was really upset to be walking out without my Nordic naturals.. I’ve been using them forever . I will be making a return. Thanks again!

Kate
on September 15, 2017 at 9:48 pm

Hi Alex, I am new to the whole prenatal thing as my husband and I would like to start trying to get pregnant in the near future. A friend of mine recently recommended My Kind Organics Prenatal Whole Food Multivitamin. Are you familiar with this? Is so, what are your thoughts? I was considering the Megafood Baby and Me 2 but for some reason decided to try out her recommendation. It was only been a few days since I have been taking it and I can’t complain of any unwanted side effects however if there is a better one out there than I am willing to make the switch. Thank you for your help and feedback!

Alex Swanson
on September 23, 2017 at 6:24 am

Hi Kate,

The Garden of Life myKind Organics is one of the only true 100% whole food multivitamins. There are pros and cons to this one. The pro is that you are getting everything directly from organic plants. The con is that certain minerals in this form are harder to absorb (zinc and iron for example), and zinc in this product is also low. Another issue I have is the stability of the water-soluble B-vitamins, carotenoids, and vitamin C directly from plants. These are known to degrade post-harvest in fruits and vegetables, and it would be helpful if the company tested their products months after production for customers to know how much the amounts are changing. They did add methylcobalamin from yeast, so the B12 should be stable.

Kelly
on September 15, 2017 at 11:57 pm

Aloha Alex,
I just received an order of the Seeking Health Optimal Prenatala capsules bc I read so many great reviews. However, upon receipt it noticed that there is a Cal Prop 65 warning. While they emailed me the Certificate of Analysis with heavy metal levels. I don’t understand if these levels are the norm or if they’re exceptionally high. Do you know anything about this or have any guidelines. I obviously want the safest thing for our potential future baby. Mahalo and thanks!

Alex Swanson
on September 23, 2017 at 6:21 am

Hi Kelly,

Proposition 65 requires a warning notice on any product that provides 0.5 micrograms of lead daily. This is 12 times lower than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lead is in our soil and water, and trace amounts are in the food we eat. So it is really challenging to know if the amount is really excessive according to Prop 65 when many fruits and vegetables would probably fail too. Thorne Research does a good job of explaining Prop 65: https://www.thorne.com/prop-65

Lya
on September 23, 2017 at 5:50 am

I’m preparing for pregnancy and trying to decide on a prenatal. Due to blood clotting factors I will need blood thinners during pregnancy, so I was advised to stay away from vitamin K (Naturelo even says to consult doctor if on blood thinners). I also have to stay away from yeast.
So, looking for methylfolate and no yeast, no vitamin K, the Frontrunners seems to be my best choice. Would you agree? One concern I have about that one is that its iron content may be too much before I’m pregnant. What if I took just one capsule before pregnancy? (With some extra folate and Vitamin D maybe? Or what else?)
I’m also planning on supplementing with the Nordic Naturals DHA (should that be started before pregnancy, too?) and probiotics. I’m currently taking Renew Life Ultimate Flora 50 billion. Is that fine during pregnancy as well, or do you have a different suggestion?
Anything else you would supplement with?
Thank you so much!

Alex Swanson
on September 27, 2017 at 3:33 pm

Hi Lya,

Yes, I would agree that Frontrunners would be your best choice. You could take just once capsule before pregnancy because you are still getting 400mcg of methylfolate which is the right amount. Vitamin D, fish oil, vitamin C, choline-rich foods, and potentially magnesium based on your diet, location and needs would be the main ones to focus on. Yes, fish oil should be started before pregnancy.

Hi Alex, i’m trying to find what would work for my wife for prenatal
and while pregnant multivitamins.
We take Tangy Tangerine 2.0 (have been taking it for a year) from
Youngevity. Seems to work fine. What do you think of that product as a
general multivitamin and as well as for pregnancy?

Is there any vitamins and minerals that my wife shouldn’t take while pregnant?

Thank you for your help. Really enjoyed your articles and learned a lot so far.

Alex Swanson
on September 25, 2017 at 4:36 pm

Hi Sean,

Tangy Tangerine uses synthetic folic acid and cyanocobalamin. The B12 is really high and would be a concerning amount to me during pregnancy (see B12 section of this article). The iron is way too low for pregnancy. It is easy to be fooled by this one because they market their formulation like it is whole food vitamin, but actually, it is a regular multivitamin that is “synergized” by extracts.

No, there isn’t necessarily a vitamin or mineral your wife shouldn’t take while pregnant, but there are certain forms you should avoid like folic acid and cyanocobalamin.

You bet. Glad you are finding the information useful.

Paula
on October 1, 2017 at 3:53 pm

Hi Alex,

We are TTC and my OBG prescribed CitraNatal 90DHA which I haven’t started yet. What is your opinion on CitraNatal 90DHA?

Thanks,
Paula

Alex Swanson
on October 2, 2017 at 4:31 pm

Hi Paula,

I don’t think very highly of it. It uses folic acid, zinc oxide, cupric oxide, synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol), and is missing multiple vitamins and minerals. The DHA is also too low and contains caramel coloring.

Mary
on October 18, 2017 at 2:50 am

Hello, last pregnancy I had a subchotonic hemotoma. I am hetero for MTHFR A. I am considering naturelo prenatal however concerned with the choline, vit k, inositol and boron. Not sure if I have other blood clotting disorders. Can you say why those particular nutrients are vital and will they adversely affect a hemotoma if I have one again. We are ttc. Thanks.

Alex Swanson
on October 18, 2017 at 4:10 pm

Hi Mary,

That is a challenging question for me to answer due to other variables and would require your doctor. If you scroll through the article, you will see why choline is vital and can be obtained by your diet. From that list, vitamin K is the only one that I’m aware of that is an issue with clotting problems. Inositol and boron aren’t necessarily essential for a prenatal and can be obtained by the diet.

I would consider asking your doctor if the Frontrunners Prenatal is your best fit. It doesn’t have vitamin K, inositol, boron or choline. If you haven’t done so already, I was also consider getting tested for Factor V Leiden. This is found in the Nutrition Genome Report, which also helps you customize your nutrient needs and can be very useful for pregnancy.

Mary
on October 18, 2017 at 6:29 pm

Thank you,

Could you tell me the difference between Douglas labs prenatal and front runners? Looks the same. I sent my doctor a message about the test.

Alex Swanson
on October 25, 2017 at 3:59 pm

Hi Mary,

Sorry, I didn’t see your follow-up question. That is a great find. It looks like Frontrunners is actually a private label the Douglas Labs product. They are identical.

Mary
on November 7, 2017 at 3:39 am

Thank you. I tested negative or in normal range for the factor V so I don’t have it. Should vitamin k be an issue for me then? Is boron going to be problematic due to it increasing cancer risks? Thanks.

Alex Swanson
on November 7, 2017 at 7:07 pm

Hi Mary,

That is good that Factor V came out normal. Your doctor would have to confirm whether or not K would be an issue because that is just one indicator of blood clots. Boron has been shown to reduce cancer risk, so I’m not sure which literature is showing an increased risk. This is a good research paper showing all the benefits of boron: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712861/

Evelyn
on October 25, 2017 at 3:27 pm

Hello! I am currently taking the Naturelo prenatal along with it’s DHA pill (Naturelo brand as well). I noticed in your article that you mention the Nordic Naturals DHA pill. Would you recommend me switching to Nordic’s version, or would Naturelo’s brand be ok to stay with?

Alex Swanson
on October 25, 2017 at 3:55 pm

Hi Evelyn,

From what I can tell, the product looks okay as a general fish oil supplement. I think Nordic Naturals is better for pregnancy due to the 480mg DHA content. If you buy the 180 capsule of Nordic Naturals, you are getting a 3 month supply versus a 2 month supply of Naturelo at the same dosage to meet the DHA requirement.

Thank you so very much for this article. Afters hours of reseaching prenatals online, this is exactly what I have been looking for. Its so hard to make the right decision for a good prenatal. I’m from the UK & its pretty difficult finding a decent wholefood prenatal that ships to the UK & isn’t extortionately priced. I will definitely consider naturelo prenatals but would like to know what you think of Cytoplan Pregna-Plan? This is a UK company but not quite sure how reputable their prenatals are.

Also I will be taking blood thinners in my pregancy, would it be a concern for me to take Naturelo or Cytoplan Pregna-Plan? Your advice will be much appreicated. Thank you.

Alex Swanson
on October 30, 2017 at 5:45 pm

Hi Shantelle,

I’m glad it helped! The Cytoplan Pregna-Plan looks like one of the better products I’ve seen in the UK. The iodine in it should be about twice their dose. The concern if you are taking blood thinners is vitamin K, which is in both Naturelo and Cytoplan Pregna-Plan. You will need to find a formula that does not contain vitamin K (like the Frontrunners product listed in this article).

Thanks for the link. This is in the “might” category and I wouldn’t be concerned about this at levels below 3mg as found in the diet. The risk likely occurs from high doses. Boron assists with numerous important functions.

Mary
on November 10, 2017 at 2:23 pm

One last question about this: if the prenatal has 1mg in them, and I eat a healthy diet, would that mean I’m getting too much? Thanks

Stevi James
on November 8, 2017 at 5:43 pm

Have been taking the Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal Powder. Not sure why I didn’t see it before but, it states on the back the Cal Prop 65 warning… can cause birth defects and reproductive harm.
What are your thoughts on that?
I’m thinking about switching to something else. I have a hard time with prenatals that contain iron because I get enough through my diet. What would you suggest?
Also, also… any thoughts on taking kefir during pregnancy?

Hi there
I’m looking for a post natal multivitamin. I’m currently nursing too. I have a 6m old. I’ve been using my prenatal vitamin so far but feel the levels are wrong and looking for a natural organic based one. Would you have any suggestions? Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on November 14, 2017 at 12:01 am

Hi Alla,

Your post-natal can be the same as your prenatal and DHA. Which one are you currently using? Do you like any of the ones listed on this article?

Mom of four
on November 14, 2017 at 11:00 pm

Hi. I took seeking health capsules in my previous pregnancy and am newly pregnant again. Came across this post in my search to see if there is anything better available. I just got my ferritin levels back and they were 250 (I have a history of high iron). In this case- would you suggest continuing with SH considering the no iron added?

I also take NN parental dha, extra magnesium(jigsaw), d3, choline, zinc, as well as extra folinic/a and mb12 (due to personal levels and genetic testing- total from all = 1.8 mg folate per day with adequate b12 to avoid folate trap).

Thanks for your help. Enjoyed your article. One of the most educated and factual I’ve read in a while.

Alex Swanson
on November 15, 2017 at 10:27 pm

Hi,

It sounds like you have done your homework! I appreciate the feedback. Yes, I would agree SH is a good choice so you can avoid extra iron, and you have covered other areas as well.

Nicole
on November 27, 2017 at 10:00 pm

I have hemochromatosis, meaning I have high blood iron levels, so I cannot take a prenatal vitamin with iron. I was taking the GNC prenatal vitamin without iron plus a DHA prenatal vitamin. I went to re-order more GNC prenatal vitamin without iron and now there is a warning that it cannot be sold in California due to Proposition 65. I have contacted GNC and no one can tell me which ingredient could potentially cause birth defects , which is concerning.
So now I’m in search of a new prenatal vitamin without iron. I know that a lot of the gummy prenatal vitamins are low in iron but have retinal palmitate which I have read can cause broth defects and to avoid taking it while pregnant.
What are your thoughts on this concern for retinyl palmitate? Do you have any suggestions for me for a new prenatal vitamin without iron?
Thanks!

You should be aware that the GNC prenatal uses folic acid and cyanocobalamin, which can be problematic as mentioned in this article.

Issues with retinyl palmitate are currently debatable and most likely not an issue in small doses. See the vitamin A section at the beginning of this article. My thought is to play it safe by getting vitamin A from the diet or cod liver oil/wild salmon oil, and choosing carotenoids in prenatals. I don’t know of many prenatal vitamins that do not have any iron, so one option for you may be to get a multivitamin without iron and purchase another 400mcg of methylfolate. I have two multis listed here: http://thehealthbeat.com/best-worst-multi-vitamins-athletes/

Cara
on November 28, 2017 at 9:13 pm

Hi Alex,
I enjoyed reading your article. I am currently nursing still and continuing to take optimal prenatal (happy to see it made your list!); but cut it down to 1 pill/day (instead of 8). I loved taking these prenatals, but now I feel that there is an abundance of vitamins and I don’t think I need that much. I’m nervous to switch because they have agreed with me so well, but I have been looking for another good quality prenatal…I am leaning towards Naturelo..dosages look good, exactly what I was looking for, but do you think there is enough vit b 12 to avoid a folate trap? Should I take extra? And is there a concern that there is no folinic acid in Naturelo? Is it the same quality ingredients that seeking health uses? When they say natural, is supplement coming from food/plants? I am compound heterozygous MTHFR and I trusted Dr. Ben Lynch with all his recommendations, but now even only taking 1 pill/day my blood work is still off the charts with folate and vit b 12. It won’t come down!

Alex Swanson
on December 1, 2017 at 5:08 pm

Hi Sara,

If your serum levels of folate and B12 are off the charts, you likely are not absorbing them. This can be an issue with gut health, transport, receptors, or you have more than you need and you are doing a good job with your diet. High circulating levels of B12 can be an issue for depleting lithium levels. The folate and B12 ratios in Naturelo more closely mimic our diet, whereas very high amounts of B12 do not. The “natural” claim is something I have reached out to Naturelo about because it really isn’t accurate. Many of their ingredients are from plants and are high-quality like Seeking Health, but the natural claim is a little ambiguous with some of the ingredients. It’s true that it does not contain folinic acid, and that is an advantage of Optimal. If you also have issues with your MTHFD1 gene for folinic acid, this could be an important distinction.

I don’t know enough about your health history to make an informed recommendation, but one consideration to run by your practitioner would be to take a break from supplemental B’s and focus on B-vitamin rich food (a healthy gut from prebiotics and probiotics also produces B-vitamins) while supplementing with minerals, any other vitamins you need like vitamin D and fish oil. Then you can see if your serum levels normalize and make a decision for lower doses or cycling B’s.

Hi
Thanks so much for your article. I was wondering your opinion on use pure encapsulation Nutrient 950 with K for a prenatal. They do not have iron, but overall they seem to have even more than the Naturelo prenatal.
Also, If I do take the naturelo prenatal you said supplement with
DHA, maybe vitamin D and maybe choline… but based on your dosage reccomendations, wouldn’t I also need to take
1. More Vitamin C
2. More magnesium and Calcium (which magnesium do you suggest? citrate or glycinate? I tried to click on the link to read the study with magnesium, but it no longer works.
In summary, my questions are:
1. what do you think of Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950 with K as a prenatal
2. Do I need more vitamin C and also magnesium and calcium if I take Naturelo prenatal
3. Which form of magnesium do you suggest?

Thanks again,
Kimberly

Alex Swanson
on December 12, 2017 at 8:00 pm

Hi Kimberly,

You are very welcome. As a prenatal, you want 800mcg of folate and the Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950 only has 400mcg. Iodine is only 100mcg and you want a minimum 150mcg. The B12 is also unnecessarily high.

1. Yes, you may require more vitamin C.
2. More calcium and magnesium may be needed. Citrate is a good one for digestion, malate and glycinate are also good. Thorne Research makes a 1:1 calcium and magnesium citrate/malate product.

Cannelle Mermet
on December 12, 2017 at 8:07 pm

Hi Alex,
I gave birth to my baby boy 3 months ago and as you suggested I am still taking my Frontrunner prenatal as well as my Nordic Naturals DHA (I breastfeed him exclusively). I have been lactose intolerant for many years (gives me stomach cramps on the right side of my body) but since I gave birth I am extra sensitive to food. Eggs gave me nausea (never did before) and it seems like so many foods are bothering me now. Do you think there is any supplement I can take to help with this or I had my blood work done (everything was fine except for my ALT and AST that are elevated). I am seeing my doctor next week to go over the results but I was wondering if you had any clue.
Thank you so much,
Cannelle

Alex Swanson
on December 13, 2017 at 6:06 pm

Hi Cannelle,

Congrats! I feel like I’ve been with you on the whole journey. There is an alteration in chemistry after pregnancy, and certain sensitivities can arise. It may take some time to build your body back from a reserve standpoint. I’m not sure why your liver enzymes are elevated. There isn’t a supplement I would recommend, but you could make a detox salad with beets as a safe way to assist your liver. https://swansonhealthcenter.com/recipes/detox-salad/

Cannelle MERMET
on December 14, 2017 at 7:52 am

Hi Alex,

Thank you, he is a wonderful little boy and I ended up giving birth at almost 39 weeks despite all the contractions but on bedrest. You definitely have been, thank you for all your help and advices during this journey. I will keep reading all your wonderful articles 🙂
Cannelle

Cannelle MERMET
on December 14, 2017 at 8:14 am

Also I was wondering would doing your nutrition genome help me understand why I contracted so much during pregnancy and help me understand what to do to avoid it if I get pregnant again in the future?

Alex Swanson
on December 14, 2017 at 10:40 pm

Hi Cannelle,

I think every woman would benefit from the Nutrition Genome analysis for before and during pregnancy. It can tell you some crucial information regarding your vitamin, mineral and compound needs that can vary by quite a bit. This benefits you and your baby’s development. It is possible you needed higher amounts of certain key nutrients.

Charlotte
on December 13, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Hi Alex I have the seeking health optimal prenatal chewable tablets. I have an under active thyroid due to hashimotos which I take medication for I know I am meant to be following a Palio diet and avoiding toxins and heavy metals. I also have low ferritin levels when they were last checked. Would you say this supplement is suitable or should I get the naturalo that came first on your site.
Thank you for your help
Charlotte

Alex Swanson
on December 13, 2017 at 6:09 pm

Hi Charlotte,

I would say if the Seeking Health Prenatal chewable tablets are working for you, then it is a fine choice.

Charlotte
on December 13, 2017 at 8:29 pm

I started today! If you were me would you stick or change? I’m 6 wks pregnant
Thanks again
Charlotte

Maria
on December 19, 2017 at 2:20 am

Hi Alex, I am so thankful for you posting this article. I am hoping you can help me finally decide which prenatal to begin taking. We are hoping to begin trying in January. I am 33yo, just finished my oral contraceptive this month (been on it since 17yo) and no major health hx, (thankfully!) have been low in Vitamin D in past.
I have narrowed it down between 4 prenatals.

I was also going to supplement Prenatals #1-3 with Nordic Naturals DHA, but was wondering your thoughts on their Strawberry flavored formula. It states “Natural Strawberry Flavor” on the list, is that safe for baby? I have heard of fish burps with DHA and was thinking I would rather burp up strawberries lol But if it unsafe, I will stick with the unflavored formula.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016PAWE34/ref=ox_sc_act_title_13?smid=A2G7B63FOSFZJZ&th=1

Thank you for your time!

Alex Swanson
on December 22, 2017 at 5:45 pm

Hi Maria,

I think Naturelo or Zahler is the best choice. Due to being on oral contraceptives for 17 years, I would lean towards a stronger formulation like Zahler. Oral contraceptives deplete folate, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. So you want to make sure you fill up these reserves again before pregnancy. The folate description is another name for l-methylfolate. Not derived from folic acid.

The issue I have with MyKind is the zinc is way too low and is in a form that is hard to absorb. The iron form may be hard to absorb as well. It also contains zero choline and only 2mg of magnesium.

Vitamin Code just uses synthetic vitamins and feed them to yeast. Not impressed.

Natural flavors are always difficult to know exactly what they are. I lean to the side of caution and avoid them. Keeping the fish oil in the freezer and then taking them will prevent fish burps if that is an issue.

Maria
on December 28, 2017 at 6:48 am

Alex,
Thank you for your response! I was trying to find the website for Zahler, or Advance Nutrition, to find out more information on what/where their vitamins are derived from, but can’t find it. I was searching on Amazon and it appears Zahlers are derived from synthetic chemistry. Is that correct? Or do they use organic/plant based/natural ingredients like Naturelo?

I was under the impression that synthetic vitamins, like Vitamin A, may cause birth defects and are infererior to those derived from natural sources.

Thank you.

Alex Swanson
on December 28, 2017 at 5:11 pm

Hi Maria,

Almost every multivitamin product is going to be a combination of naturally derived, bacterially derived or yeast derived, and synthetically derived. The important thing is to know which synthetic ones to avoid (like beta-carotene and vitamin E for example). I don’t know a lot about the Zahler company, so I can’t confirm all of their methods. It would be worth inquiring to get more details.

I’m not aware of any evidence showing that retinyl palmitate (a form of synthetic A) at low levels may cause birth defects. You can see my findings at the beginning of this article for vitamin A research. I do, however, think that natural sources are superior.

Cannelle Mermet
on December 20, 2017 at 1:35 am

Hi Alex,

Thank you I will definitely do it before trying to get pregnant again. Hopefully we will have some answers 🙂
I know this is not the right article but I was wondering what probiotics, vitamin C and omega 3 would you recommend for my son. I heard those are all important for him to have when he gets his shots to limit side effects. He is already taking vitamin D as I am breastfeeding.
Thank you so much.

Alex Swanson
on December 20, 2017 at 5:24 pm

Hi Cannelle,

I have a few probiotics listed for children at the bottom of this article.

You can also use whole food vitamin C products with children since they don’t require adult dosages. Check out the one at the bottom of my here“>vitamin C article.

Wiley’s Finest has some good children’s fish oil options.

Cannelle BALDASSARI MERMET
on January 6, 2018 at 6:28 am

Thank you Alex for the info. Can I take the vitamin C on top of my prenatal while nursing? Could not find the article with recommendation for vitamin C for babies.
Thank you again!

Alex Swanson
on January 8, 2018 at 4:42 am

Hi Cannelle,

The vitamin C guidelines remain the same as for prenatal. You can take it. Here is the vitamin C article, and the children’s recommendation is at the bottom.

hi Alex thanks for the reply. what about pure encapsulations prenatal nutrients? Just came across it.

Thanks in advance

Alex Swanson
on January 5, 2018 at 2:32 am

Hi Mel,

Everything looks good except they blend folic acid in with methylfolate. They should be blending folinic acid with methylfolate.

Mel
on January 3, 2018 at 1:03 am

also what your thoughts on the honest company prenatal?. i know you recommend naturelo but i am a bit sceptical as they have only recently started. i am wondering if there is enough time and evidence to show if they really work or dont.

also i am ttc so i am looking for a prenatal. question
1)can i take the nordic naturals prenatal dha all now b4 i get pregnant?
2)can one use mthfr prenatal if they dont have the gene? will it have any side effects?

Alex Swanson
on January 5, 2018 at 2:41 am

Hi Mel,

I’m not familiar with the Honest Company. Their folate is a little on the low side. It should be 800mcg for pregnancy. If you want a company with a long track record and evidence, Thorne Research is at the top.

1) Definitely.

2) Yes, this is a common misconception. Methylfolate is a type of folate found in food. Folic acid is a synthetic type of folate that is not found in food. Genetic variants in MTHFR 677 increase the need for B2 and methylfolate. Side effects can occur with higher doses of methylfolate in some people (usually higher than 1mg and when isolated versus in a B-complex).

Mel
on January 7, 2018 at 12:49 pm

Thanks Alex…i was looking at Thorne Research i am only seeing a basic prenatal. think thats the one you are refering to. i was looking at the RDV and i see some arr very high like iron 45mg and zinc and b6 etc. is it ok to take such high amounts?

Alex Swanson
on January 8, 2018 at 2:21 am

Hi Mel,

Yes, this is a stronger formula and I disagree with some of their dosages for the average woman. It is designed for those who struggle with low levels of certain nutrients. The zinc and B6 are not at levels that are concerning to me, but you would want to monitor your iron levels.

Mel
on January 8, 2018 at 6:13 pm

Hi Alex,

Ok so I am going with your suggestion as I am trying to conceive and only want the best.

I am asthmatic so i dont do alot of dairy in my diet other than occasional yogurt.

Thanks in advance for replying

Mel

Cannelle Mermet
on January 7, 2018 at 7:49 am

Me again Alex 🙂 I was wondering if I can take a vitamin C supplement (the one you suggested) to boost my immune system while still taking my prenatal and breastfeeding? Also I could not find your recommendations for babies and vitamin C (the link you sent me is not working) and finally concerning probiotics would they help with my digestive issues due to lactose intolerance? If so do you suggest the seeking health one then?
Thank you!!

Alex Swanson
on January 8, 2018 at 4:44 am

Hi Cannelle,

See my last comment for the vitamin C question. In regards to probiotics, they can help with digestive issues. The enzyme lactase is what helps with lactose, and in that case, you may want the dairy-free probiotics by Seeking Health.

Andreia
on January 8, 2018 at 6:19 pm

Dear Alex,
I’m trying to conceive and I’m glad I found your article/evaluation about prenatal vitamins. Thank you for providing great and non biased information for us. I have taken the Naturelo prenatal you recommended but I was doing some research about vegetable cellulose capsule and I have some concerns about the wood pulp material that are in general in this kind of capsule.

I’m concerned about which kind of vegetable cellulose Naturelo uses since is more economical to use cellulose from wood by-products. Some cellulose can be from vegetables, but when a prenatal vitamin doesn’t list it in detail on the label we cannot be sure. I called Naturelo but they didn’t answer about their vegetable cellulose capsule by phone and I was asked to send an email. I emailed them but I had no answer.

I’m looking for a prenatal that it is GMO-free, yeast free, soy (protein and oil) free, dairy free, gluten free, whole-food vitamin & organic without wood pulp ingredient in the capsule. It may be impossible, lol.
Besides Naturelo, I found two products from Nutrigold and I’d like to know what you think of them as prenatal vitamin.
1 – folate (http://www.nutrigold.com/Folate-Folic-Acid)
It looks to be a good one because it has no harmful additives but I wrote to Nutrigold asking about the specific ingredients/sources, how is made their veggie capsule and which kind of rice flour they use in the Folate Gold. The response was: “Thank you for your interest in our Folate Gold product. The rice flour is simply USA-grown, white rice flour—this is naturally gluten-free and hypoallergenic. The veggie capsule is made from HPMC, a form of semi-synthetic cellulose.”
I replied asking what is the semi-synthetic cellulose made up of, and their answer was: “The capsule shell is made from cellulose from wood pulp, but because it is processed, we consider it semi-synthetic…”.
Im still learning and researching but can wood pulp/ semi-synthetic be included as an organic whole-food and non-GMO prenatal? Im confused, lol.
2 – The other option is the Nutrigold prenatal (http://www.nutrigold.com/Whole-Food-Prenatal-Multivitamin)
This prenatal listed in other ingredients organic veggie capsule (pullulan), organic rice concentrate. It seems there is no wood pulp / semi-synthetic, right? Would this one be a better option?

I’d like to know your opinion. Which one would be a better [GMO-free, yeast free, soy (protein and oil) free, dairy free, gluten free, whole-food vitamin & organic] prenatal with the good amounts of vitamins & minerals, please?
Thank you very much!
Andy

Alex Swanson
on January 12, 2018 at 4:55 pm

Hi Andy,

Sorry for the late reply! Your comment got buried and I had trouble finding it again. That is an excellent question regarding the type of cellulose used. Did you get an answer? I’m not sure what percentage of companies use the wood pulp vs. the actual veggie capsule since many of them probably order from the same source. It’s possible this could be included in a whole food product. Another reason why pure powders and liquids are advantageous.

In regards to the Nutrigold Prenatal, my major issue with this product and products like MyKind is the low zinc dosage that is also in a hard to absorb from. Something that isn’t talked enough about is the zinc/copper imbalance that occurs in a lot of women due to the use of the copper IUD, oral contraceptives, low zinc and high copper intake (especially from a plant-based diet), etc. Zinc pushes down high copper levels while vitamin C helps chelate excess copper, and a proper balance is very important during pregnancy.

Andy
on January 18, 2018 at 10:18 pm

Alex,
I really appreciate your work in providing non biased information. You mentioned the powder and liquid version of prenatal supplements. Id would like to know if there is any you can suggest that is: [GMO-free, yeast free, soy (protein and oil) free, dairy free, gluten free, whole-food vitamin & organic] prenatal with the good (desirable) amounts of vitamins & minerals, please.

I’m disappointed with Nutrigold. I found out that they use synthetic or semi-synthetics (wood pulp). Their prenatal is made from pullulan but still have some fermented soy and synthetic products.
Does Naturelo use K2 is from fermented soybeans or natto ? Can B12 be find in whole food or made naturally meaning by non-synthetic products? So far Natutrerlo has never replied to my emails 
I’m afraid that it doesn’t exist a natural (meaning 100% organic whole food, non-synthetic), GMO-free, yeast free, soy (protein and oil) free, dairy free, gluten free, whole-food vitamin & organic] prenatal or folate. I’d like to know your thoughts about that.

Thank you in advance

Alex Swanson
on January 18, 2018 at 11:15 pm

Hi Andy,

Have you heard of the company Pranin’s Mom’s Purefood A-Z? I think this is as close as you are going to find, but you may not be happy with the vitamin and mineral profile. It is hard to get it to the exact specifications when working strictly with plants.

Andy
on January 19, 2018 at 2:09 am

Thank you very much Alex,

I read your evaluation of Naturelo prenatal and Id like to know if their K2 is from fermented soybeans and also if their B12 is made from synthetic products.

Thanks a lot

Ghada
on January 12, 2018 at 6:12 pm

Dear Alex,

What do you think of “Zahler Prenatal DHA, Premium Prenatal Multivitamin supplement for Mother and Child” as a prenatal vitamin?

Alex Swanson
on January 12, 2018 at 6:45 pm

Hi Ghada,

I don’t know a lot about the Zahler company, but from what I can see I think it looks better than most. This is a higher potency prenatal.

The K2 is from the bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, which is what allows it to be a soy free formula.

Andy
on January 19, 2018 at 6:34 pm

Thanks Alex,
How about Naturelo B12 vitamin in their Prenatal, is it synthetic, please?

Thank you

Alex Swanson
on January 20, 2018 at 12:26 am

Hi Andy,

I believe the methylcobalamin is synthesized via bacterial fermentation.

Cassidy
on January 19, 2018 at 4:52 pm

Hi Alex,

I am currently using the Megafood Baby&Me 2 prenatal you recommended. It is so great as I have zero nausea while taking it like I have had with many other brands (including Thornes basic prenatal). As it does not contain calcium or magnesium, do you think this is a good supplement to take as well during pregnancy? If so, should I take it at a different time than the prenatal vitamin to maximize absorption? You are very appreciated!

Hi Alex, I enjoyed reading your article and appreciate all of the research and information. I am currently taking the seeking health optimal prenatal capsules. 8 is a lot to take in a day, I usually end up only taking 6 in a day. I have to be honest, I have loved the energy that I’ve had since taking these! Plus I tested positive for mthfr gene mutation so I feel like these are the best option for me. I am wondering about taking a dha supplement? If I was to take the Nordic naturals dha prenatal along with my seeking health capsules, would you recommend taking the full dose 8 capsules with the dha? Or would you recommend I continue to take only 6 or less? Also, I am currently 17 weeks pregnant, am I too late to start a dha supplement or can I safely start taking dha? Thank you

Alex Swanson
on January 20, 2018 at 12:36 am

Hi Chayla,

Glad you have enjoyed the research! Everyone is different, so your body’s response is the best indication of how compatible a prenatal supplement is for you. It is a stronger formula, so I see no issue with 6 capsules a day. The DHA intake doesn’t require you to take more. It’s not too late to start taking DHA, it is beneficial at all stages.

Alex Swanson
on January 20, 2018 at 12:29 am

Hi Cassidy,

Glad the Megafood Baby&Me 2 is working out! Yes, the Thorne calcium/magnesium is a good product, especially if you need extra vitamin C. Yes, you can take it at a different time to maximize absorption.

Ethan
on January 24, 2018 at 2:29 am

Hi Alex,

I am trying to help my wife find a good calcium and magnesium supplement to take while she is pregnant as her prenatal does not contain any of either. I could not find the Thorne Research 1:1 calcium and magnesium citrate/malate product that you suggested on Amazon. She also doesn’t want to take the one by Thorne with the added vitamin C. We are wanting to purchase a product by a safe company that is tested for unwanted substances and that is as pure as possible. She thinks it will be a challenge to get the daily recommended dose of 1,000mg calcium and 400-600mg magnesium each day, so we are wanting to take a supplement that provides at least half of the recommended dose. Can you suggest a product other than the Thorne one that has at least 400-500mg of calcium citrate and 200-300mg magnesium citrate? I found this liquid product but have never heard of the brand Solgar. Can you speak to this brand at all? Also can you speak to the health of the non-medicinal ingredients? The other ingredients are: Filtered Water, Fructose, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan.

I wouldn’t recommend the Now formula because it uses poorly absorbed “oxide” forms, and it is too high in zinc to be combining with another product that contains zinc.

The liquid formula listed has some undesirable additive ingredients that I wouldn’t risk during pregnancy.

I checked with our resident Canadian, Marty, and he was stumped as well. The closest product is going to be the 1:1 product by Thorne Research available in Canada, and/or consuming Gerolsteiner mineral water.

Ethan
on January 26, 2018 at 5:43 am

Thank you for your insights Alex. I appreciate you trying to find another calcium/magnesium supplement. The Gerolsteiner mineral water seems like a great option for an easy way to increase calcium and magnesium. I don’t know much about mineral water. Just double checking, are the other minerals in the water like sulphate (38mg), chloride (40mg), bicarbonate (1.816 mg), sodium (118mg) and potassium (11mg) all safe for pregnancy?

Ethan
on January 26, 2018 at 5:48 am

I meant 1800mg of bicarbonate

Alex Swanson
on January 26, 2018 at 7:32 pm

Hi Ethan,

Yes, mineral water is superior to tap water. Our drinking water should be rich in minerals. Yes, these minerals all safe for pregnancy. The bicarbonate and calcium help with acid reflux and indigestion that occurs during pregnancy. You can also let it go flat if you don’t like the carbonation.

Ethan
on January 26, 2018 at 10:01 pm

Awesome.
Found this NFH cal-mag supplement in citrate forms. There la a bit of Vit D in it too. Do you know anything about this company?
The other nonmedicinal ingredients are: vegetable magnesium stearate, a non GMO vegetable capsule of vegetable carbohydrate gum and purified water. And sunflower oil, corn starch (non GMO), and sucrose in small amounts for the manufacture of the vit D that’s added. The Calcium and magnesium amounts are a little bit higher than Thorn product. Do you think this makes it a superior supplement? I wanted to make sure all the non medicinal ingredients were safe in pregnancy.http://www.bmsresources.ca/nfh-cal-mag-sap-120-vegicaps/dp/3136

Thanks again!

Dr Tanzeela
on January 25, 2018 at 1:49 pm

Thanks for such an informative article Alex Swanson. I just want to highlight an important issue regarding CAL PROP 65 warning labelled on seeking optimal health supplements. It’s very disappointing to read such a label with warning written that it contains a chemical known to cause birth defects and infertility on a prenatal or any multivitamin. I liked the seeking optimal health formula because it was the most comprehensive and used the best forms of vitamins but I have lost some faith in seeking optimal health multivitamins specially prenatal since I know their product has lead and cadmium.
What do you say about that labelled CAL PROP warning on seeking optimal health multivitamins?

Alex Swanson
on January 25, 2018 at 11:04 pm

Hi Dr. Tanzeela,

When Prop 65 first starting showing up on labels, I had the same reaction. While I think it is important to have stringent testing to ensure safe levels of heavy metals, Prop 65 doesn’t appear to give realistic values. When you review the levels of heavy metals in whole foods and what is actually considered safe compared to the levels set by Prop 65, it doesn’t appear that many foods would pass the test.

Hi Alex! I personally like seeking optimal health multivitamins because I find these to be very potent and high quality with most diverse variety of vitamins ,minerals, amino acids, herbs and organic vegetables ,fruits and superfood blends. But it’s very disappointing that Seeking Optimal Heath multivitamins now have CAL PROP 65 Warning labelled on all of its bottles including seeking optimal health prenatal chocolate powder which means they have cadmium and lead in a range not safe to human consumption specially in pregnancy. How a prenatal multivitamin supplement can have such a label written on it that this supplement contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause reproductive and birth defects?

Please highlight about this issue. What do you say about CAL PROP warning labelled on seeking optimal health Prenatals?

Dr Tanzeela
on January 26, 2018 at 1:34 am

Thanks Alex for the prompt reply!

It’s satisfying to know, if really, the amount of heavy metals found in our foods can exceed the amount found in multivitamins per serving.

Though it’s always a difficult decision and almost impossible to know which supplements have least of these harmful substances. My second choice would be Naturallo multivitamins after seeking optimal health ones.

Thanks again for sharing the informative link.

Kelly
on January 28, 2018 at 9:18 pm

Hi Alex,
It looks like Thorne has discontinued their Calcium-Magnesium Citramate 1:1. Is there another brand you’d recommend to take with the Naturelo Prenatals? What would you recommend for additional choline supplementation (I don’t eat eggs, which makes dietary supplementation difficult). Thanks so much!
Kelly

Alex Swanson
on January 29, 2018 at 8:32 pm

Hi Kelly,

Pure Encapsulations has a 1:1 calcium citrate/magnesium citrate product if you are looking for a similar formula. I still haven’t found a 2:1 calcium to magnesium product for pregnancy without extra vitamins or minerals in it. For choline, Thorne Research makes a phosphatidylcholine product and Seeking Health makes one called Optimal PC.

Kelly
on February 2, 2018 at 3:22 am

It looks like Pure Encapsulations has a calcium magnesium malate in a 2:1 ratio. Is this much different than the citrate form?

Alex Swanson
on February 2, 2018 at 9:03 pm

Hi Kelly,

Citrate and malate are very similar. I actually prefer the malate form.

Brooklyn
on January 30, 2018 at 10:59 pm

Hi Alex, I am wondering if you can suggest a good Choline supplement to take with the Thorne Prenatal. I am allergic to eggs, soy, and Sunflower Seed, so the seeking health one is out as is eating eggs. I found this one from Nested Naturals do you know if this is a wise choice? It seems to be a good dose and 3rd party tested. Thanks for your time and suggestions.https://nestednaturals.com/supplement/choline-bitartrate-550mg/

Alex Swanson
on January 31, 2018 at 12:14 am

Hi Brooklyn,

Yes, that does make it difficult since all of the choline products are usually derived from soy or sunflower seeds. It looks like Choline Bitartrate is your best bet. I’m not familiar with that company, but from what I can tell, it is a fine product.

Laura
on February 2, 2018 at 7:56 pm

Hi Alex,
Thank you for the great article! I am 21 weeks pregnant and was on prescribed Zantean prenatals, but switched a few days ago to the Naturelo after reading your article and with the blessing of my doctor. The prescription prenatals were making me severely constipated. I’m hoping the Naturelos will help. However, as I was looking at the vitamin levels on the back of the Naturelo bottle, I noticed that many of the vitamins are at much higher concentrations today than the make up you provided in the article. Do you know if they went through a reformulation? I eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and don’t want to over do it especially since some higher concentrations of vitamins could cause complications or defects.
Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on February 2, 2018 at 9:32 pm

Hi Laura,

Glad you liked it! I just double checked the label on this article, Amazon and the Naturelo website, and they are all the same. Are you perhaps reviewing a different Naturelo product? This prenatal is probably the most conservative one in terms of amounts, with many prenatal supplements having much higher dosages.

Li
on February 5, 2018 at 6:50 am

Hi Alex,

I’d love to hear your thoughts (pros and cons) about this prenatal vitamin:

This looks better than most. They are using the right form and amounts of the majority of vitamins and minerals. The only mistake they made was using zinc oxide and the pyridoxine hydrochloride form of B6 in an amount that is likely too low for many women.

Li
on February 7, 2018 at 5:00 am

Thank you so much for your reply, Alex! You’ve given me hope ?

Florence
on February 6, 2018 at 4:21 pm

Hello Alex,
I am 2 month pregnant. If i am taking the naturelo prenatal together with the nordic dha, is extra folic acid intake necessary?

Thank you.

Alex Swanson
on February 6, 2018 at 4:46 pm

Hi Florence,

No, you do not need extra folate outside of the Naturelo prenatal. It actually looks like they made a change to their formula and went from 800mcg to 1,333mcg.

Florence
on February 6, 2018 at 6:42 pm

Yes it is 1333 mcg now. How do think about the increased content？

Alex Swanson
on February 7, 2018 at 5:20 am

Hi Florence,

It looks like the FDA has made some changes to how certain vitamin and mineral amounts are being labeled. Folate must be listed using the unit mcg DFE (Dietary Folate Equivalents). This is the amount of mcg folate ÷ 0.6 = [Amount in mcg DFE]. 800 mcg ÷ 0.6 = 1333 mcg DFE

New labels of 800 mcg of folate will now be reported as 1333 mcg DFE. So it is the same.

Florence
on February 7, 2018 at 8:18 am

It is so professional. Thank you for your explanation!

Jade
on February 6, 2018 at 9:55 pm

Hi Alex, I have been looking intensely for the right prenatal. I found one called Prenatal SAP by NFH recommended highly by a naturopathic doctor. What are your thoughts on this one?
Also, I really like the Naturelo Prenatal Vitamin- I am on a baby aspirin (no lovenox, no warfarin). Would it be ok to take this with Vitamin K included? Also, now that Naturelo has been out for one year are there any new thoughts on this product or would this still be your number one recommended prenatal?
Thank you for your prompt reply and concern.

Hi Alex,
I have been intensely searching for the best and most natural prenatal vitamin. I found a brand called Prenatal SAP by NFH and was wondering your thoughts on this brand.
Also, I am on a baby aspirin (no warfarin, no lovenox) and I was wondering if it is ok to be taking the Naturelo Prenatal Vitamin with Vitamin K. Now that Naturelo has been out for about a year would you still recommend it as your number one prenatal?
One additional question about the Naturelo- I noticed it includes Inositol in it. When I research online it says that there is not enough evidence to say whether inositol is safe in supplements during pregnancy. Is this a safe dose and completely nothing to worry about?
Thank you so much for your time and care. I sincerely appreciate it.

Alex Swanson
on February 9, 2018 at 6:06 pm

Hi Jade,

From what I can tell, the Prenatal SAP by NFH appears to be a quality product, especially if you need more iron. However, it does not contain choline, which is becoming required to be in every prenatal now. I am always looking for the best products, and yes, so far I would say Naturelo is still the best formulation. It is a very small amount of inositol, so I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

Hi Alex
Can you tell me what do you think about these prenatals
1. Wellness Essentials Pregnancy 30 pkts by Metagenics
2. Zahler, Prenatal + DHA 300
Do they have folate for MTHFR gene mutation
Thank you.

Lou
on February 23, 2018 at 3:03 pm

Thank you for this article! Very helpful! I recently switched to the Mama & me 2 prenatal (nursing a 9 mth old). I have noticed a strange almost yeasty/garbage like smell from in my sweat and my urine. Never had this before. My husband noticed it also. Stopped the vitamin and returned to normal. Is this a normal reaction? Possibly to the S. Ceriviscae or the Choline???? Not sure what to think. Thank you!!!

Alex Swanson
on February 23, 2018 at 6:58 pm

Hi Lou,

The only thing I can of is it is possibly from the choline. I’m going to get a little technical for a second. Isolated choline can increase the amount of something called TMAO, which is cleared by the kidneys. If there is a mutation of FMO3 it can cause trimethylaminuria that causes individuals to excrete TMA, rather than TMAO. This can cause a fishy odor to come out of the sweat and urine. It would be best to get choline from food instead of supplementation and see if that rectifies the issue.

Silvia
on February 28, 2018 at 6:13 pm

Hi, what is your analysis of Twinlab Pre-Natal Care Multi Vitamin Capsules? I am suspicious of what I read on the nutrition label. Please advise, thanks!

Alex Swanson
on March 2, 2018 at 1:35 am

Hi Silvia,

Twinlab uses folic acid and cyanocobalamin, which I wouldn’t recommend. I also question the safety of polysorbate 80 in the other ingredients.

Alyssa
on March 7, 2018 at 11:36 pm

What are your thoughts on nature’s plus source of life vitamins? Also I’d love to know if you approve of the honest company prenatals. I saw you mentioned something briefly about it above, but I’m hoping for a more in depth analysis.
Thanks,
Alyssa

Alyssa
on March 7, 2018 at 11:40 pm

I would also love to know now that it has been over a year since this article, do you still hold true to naturelo as being the best if anything has changed (become better or worse) with this prenatal since it came out?

Alyssa
on March 8, 2018 at 1:26 am

Sorry yet another question! Wondering why pranin has been left off the list. Thanks!

Alex Swanson
on March 8, 2018 at 5:57 pm

Hi Alyssa,

I really like Pranin’s whole food approach, but I don’t think the prenatal is sufficient enough for many vitamins and minerals during pregnancy including vitamin D, niacin, potentially folate, magnesium, B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron and zinc. A major issue I see is that it doesn’t contain any iodine or choline.

Alex Swanson
on March 8, 2018 at 5:16 pm

Hi Alyssa,

Yes, Naturelo still holds the best spot. After a year of feedback, women really love it. I keep all of my articles updated with the best products, even ones that are years old. So far, all of the rankings on this article have remained.

Alex Swanson
on March 9, 2018 at 5:37 pm

Hi Alyssa,

The Nature’s Plus product uses folic acid and cyanocobalamin, so I wouldn’t recommend that one. For the Honest Company prenatal, for the most part, they did a lot of things right. The issue I see is that they are using magnesium oxide and zinc oxide, both of which have a poor absorption rate. They also only use 30mg of choline.

Thao Le
on March 9, 2018 at 1:25 pm

Hi Alex, Naturelo prenatal has 18mg Iron while I see most of the recomdendation is 30mg. Can you help advise?

Alex Swanson
on March 9, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Hi Thao Le,

The amount of iron needed from supplements depends on how much dietary iron is consumed, and whether or not iron levels are low or high. Iron metabolism varies between individuals, so 18mg would be a good middle of the road target if enough dietary iron is being consumed. It is best to get testing done by a doctor so that you can see if more or less iron is needed.

Sarah
on March 14, 2018 at 9:12 am

Hi,

I recently (Feb 2018) bought the Naturelo Prenatal Multivitamin after reading yours and a few other good reviews about it.

However, I noticed that there have been some changes to the product ingredients since your post.

your website lists:
Biotin 300mcg as 100%
the product I have lists:
Biotin 300mcg as 1000%??????(could this be a typo on the label?)

your website lists:
Chromium 30mcg as 25%
the product I have lists:
Chromium 30mcg as 86%

There are more examples of these percentage differences even though the serving amount is the same.

Can you tell us……
1. why there could be such a difference in percentages?
2. could the product reliability/quality have changed since your review?
3. is this still the most balanced/”best” prenatal supplement in your opinion?
4. if you would recommend other supplements will be required with the new Naturelo Prenatal with the changes?
e.g. you still recommended extra vit D, calcium, DHA and choline as well as others, since the amount of Vit A seems to be significantly reduced.

In terms of the biotin, they said they will be reducing it based on the new DV percentage. The formula is, in fact, the same, and my recommendations still stand including extra vitamin D, calcium, DHA, and choline. True vitamin A should be consumed from food, as outlined in the article.

Ashely
on March 14, 2018 at 3:06 pm

Hello! What do you think about the UpSpring Prenatal+ Tablet Kit – 60ct? I have been thinking about switching to the Naturelo prenatal multi based on your reviews but just wanted to get your opinion of my current choice first.

Alex Swanson
on March 15, 2018 at 11:02 pm

Hi Ashley,

I think the major red flags are that it is missing iodine, selenium, calcium, magnesium, iron and only has 3.75mg of zinc. The DHA is also too low for pregnancy (250mg). This is very poorly designed and really shouldn’t be marketed as a prenatal.

Ashely
on March 19, 2018 at 9:49 pm

I’m not sure which one you researched but the one that I have has 100mg of calcium, 18mg of iron, 40mg of magnesium, and 15mg of zinc. The only things I can’t find are iodine and selenium.

Thanks. Yes, I was looking at the gummy version. I’m not sure why they omitted iodine and selenium because the rest of the formula doesn’t look bad. If you like this one, I would make an effort to get sufficient iodine and selenium in your diet. You may also want to aim for more DHA.

Dear Alex, I had two children already born in the USA & have just discovered I am now for a third time (unplanned! But happy), I was prescribed SELECT-OB + DHA & both pregnancies were wonderful! I was very happy with this prenatal.
It had 1000mg of Folate which my dr insisted on for my age being over 38 for both & it had no iodine which I later realized was because I have hypothyroidism & am on 50mg about to go up to 75mg due to the pregnancy need.
My problem is finding a prenatal as wonderful as my previous one in the UK. I ordered Naturelo on Amazon but later they canceled the order saying the package got damaged? During that time I noticed the level of iodine & realized it was not ideal for me & can effect my Throid medication. Please can you offer an alternative prenatal that has no iodine but a higher dose of folate? Very appreciative of any help you can pass my way!
Best, claire

Sorry, I meant to say I’m on 50mg of Levothyroxine about to start 75mg.
Currently only taking a basic pre conception supplement from Seven Seas since I found out the news & its only 400ug folic acid with a few other supported vitamins & minerals.

Alex Swanson
on March 19, 2018 at 6:33 pm

Hi Claire,

Congrats on the new pregnancy! That is a pretty unique prenatal formulation to omit iodine and have 1,000mcg of folate. I’m not aware of any formula that is designed that way. I am a little confused about avoiding iodine unless you have Hashimoto’s. Did your doctor tell you that you should avoid iodine during pregnancy?

Hi Alex, no she didn’t actually mention that but when I was looking at prenatals on the shelf, both pharmacists & healthfood advisers all commented that the iodine would effect the efficiency of the Levothyroxine. I also googled and found the same advice online myself.
If the my thyroid medication isn’t as effective I learnt the baby could develop undersized. I’m really lost right now as to what I should be taking.
Is there one you would recommend to someone taking this medication? Tks

Alex Swanson
on March 20, 2018 at 11:59 pm

Hi Claire,

I would consult with a doctor regarding this because based on my experience (with clients and my sister) and other practitioners I know, small amounts of iodine are not avoided during pregnancy with hypothyroid medication due to the importance of iodine for the developing thyroid gland and brain of the baby. Perhaps you are getting adequate iodine in your diet, but I think there is a difference between 150mcg of iodine from a prenatal versus high doses of iodine that could interfere with the medication. I just want to make sure you are getting accurate information and it is worth double checking with your doctor. If it turns out that your doctor wants you to avoid iodine, then the Upspring Prenatal that Ashely just posted would likely be what you are looking for.

Karyn
on March 21, 2018 at 2:09 pm

How would you rank the Omega-3 from Naturelo in comparison to the Nordic Natural’s supplement you recommended?

I have a coupon for the Naturelo supplement after buying their prenatal, so I’m wondering if I can go the cheaper route on that. Here is a link:

The quality is excellent, but the difference is more about the dosing of DHA during pregnancy. I prefer the higher ratio of DHA to EPA that Nordic Naturals provides.

Heather Johnson
on March 24, 2018 at 7:54 pm

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this article. This article is what I have been searching for, for over a year. My husband and I had 4 miscarriages with 6 babies in our first year of marriage. I have crohns disease and I also have a mthfr gene mutation.
To say that I have been overwhelmed with internet research is a HUGE understatement. This article is everything I’ve been looking for and more. Perfect amount of information with out overwhelming me. Thank you so so much!

Alex Swanson
on March 25, 2018 at 1:23 am

Hi Heather,

Wow, that really means a lot that you would take the time to write this. I’m sorry to hear about you and your husband, and I hope this information helps you in your search for answers. Let me know if there is any other way I can help.

Glory
on March 27, 2018 at 9:03 pm

Hi, interesting article. I found these vitamins months ago after my own research on the best form of each vitamin to take in addition to the appropriate amount of each vitamin for women and pregnant women to take. I almost gave up because I found that companies put crap into their vitamins or put in too much or not enough. I went to reorder Naturelo prenatal and I am really disappointed and surprised about the changes. If you made all the suggestions for the changes, why did you suggest such high levels of folate? The previous one was high enough. It’s not safe taking that much and even your research says to take up to 800mcg. The Biotin is also very high. What are we supposed to take now? Very disappointed. Can you tell them to lower back to 800 thanks. They should also increase the magnesium and choline as well. Why did the DV of the Vitamin A change too? Not sure why that decreased. Freaking out that I don’t have a vitamin to take now, I don’t like any other ones. They don’t meet my standards.

In terms of the biotin, they said they will be reducing it based on the new DV percentage.

Glory
on March 28, 2018 at 2:18 pm

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the quick response. Still skeptical about the amounts. I’ve read that several times and it didn’t make sense how the percentage changed if the values are the same or not no matter how they are reported. If vitamin A is the same as
4000iu = 200mcg, why did the percentage change? The old label says 80% and the new one is only 22%. If they are equal, the percentage should be the same right? I would look at this and think I need to supplement a lot more Vitamin A which might not be the case but then in turn consuming too much for a baby. Also the vitamin b12 didn’t change in mcg but the percentage did. Still confused and skeptical.

Alex Swanson
on March 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Hi Glory,

There is a 258 page FDA document that goes over the DV changes and I will summarize a few sections. Essentially, the summary is that “the updated information is consistent with current data on the associations between nutrients and chronic diseases, health-related conditions, physiological endpoints, and/or maintaining a healthy dietary pattern that reflects current public health conditions in the United States and corresponds to new information on consumer understanding and consumption patterns.”

It is helpful to remember that the FDA takes a broad approach for the entire U.S. with these recommendations. It really depends on your diet and your individual needs. For some vitamins, the DV went down because it has become clear that the majority of people are getting sufficient amounts and too much may be problematic. This is something I’ve been saying about B12 supplementation for years.

They have taken into account that people’s sugar intake is higher and “when added sugar intake is 10 to 15 percent of calories, the median intakes of nine nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, fiber, and total choline) are significantly lower.” With respect to vitamin A, the FDA increased the DV because “(1) It was found in a limited number of foods within the food supply; and (2) a 1990 IOM labeling report identified vitamin A as a nutrient of potential public health significance and stated that certain subpopulations (children under 5 years of age) were still at risk of deficiency for this vitamin.” As stated in this article, beta-carotene is not true vitamin A and the conversion varies dramatically.

I hope this helps clarify the changes more.

Glory
on March 29, 2018 at 3:24 pm

Alex,
Thanks for the explanation. Last thing I’m curious and don’t know if you know or not but I was wondering what the “mineral bound” ingredients are in the Mega Food Baby and Me 2. There are 8 vitamins without their source. I know you suggested they are good and I bought them a while ago but haven’t used them yet since using Naturelo. I called Mega Food and asked them if they could tell me which type of each vitamin is used for the ones not listed and she said she didn’t know. That made me a little uneasy even though I know they use food, but couldn’t tell me if they were synthetic or not. She only said they use non-heme iron but that was it. I know which vitamins our bodies can readily absorb and I’m not sure if they use those or not.(I was trying to compare it to Naturelo) I’m not sure if they shared that with you or if you could get an answer. You seem to have a good relationship with them. She kept saying when it’s binded to the yeast the properties change and the source didn’t matter much. The original source of the vitamin is important too. I would just use Naturelo prenatal but keep going back and forth because of the vitamin c they chose. Acerola cherries haven’t been researched enough and many say don’t take to be on the safe side. I’m way too scared to take the risk. If they could just change the vitamin c source for the prenatal, that would be the perfect vitamin! Really love how Naturelo lists everything and agree it is the best. Maybe they would make that change while changing the biotin too. Thank you.

Alex Swanson
on March 29, 2018 at 5:12 pm

Hi Glory,

MegaFood claims that information is proprietary since it is bound to yeast and therefore the original starting source is unknown. I would be surprised if they are using anything but food-sourced ingredients because their whole company and raw material sourcing are based on that model.

I’m not aware of any evidence that shows that acerola cherries should be avoided during pregnancy since they are fruit, similar to other vitamin C rich fruits. If they are discussed, it is more likely due to the dosage of vitamin C and the warning of not taking too much vitamin C during pregnancy.

Melissa
on March 29, 2018 at 7:43 pm

Hi I was curious if you knew anything about Real food Organics Prenatal and what your opinion is? I can’t get your number one pick in store and I don’t have the ability to buy online so I’m limited to what’s on the shelves at my local health food store. I’m 38 and just found out I’m 10 weeks prego(completely unplanned) and freaking out about not having the right nutrition based on my age. Do you know if I need higher amounts of anything based on age alone? Also I’ve had trouble with milk production and was curious if there’s something I could start taking now to prepare. Thanks

Alex Swanson
on April 2, 2018 at 8:50 pm

Hi Melissa,

I would pass on the Real Food Organics Prenatal. Let me know what other options you have and I’ll help you find one. Regarding age, no your requirements do not necessarily change for pregnancy, but you do want to be more conscious of chemicals/toxins (diet, cleaning products, laundry, etc). Folate, choline, B12, B6 and betaine should be the main dietary focus for healthy methylation. I think that age plays a role in terms of toxin accumulation, and so a clean diet and environment play an even more vital role as you get older.

In regards to milk production, there are a few factors including stress, low fluid intake and low complex carbohydrate intake that lead to low prolactin levels. Forgetting to eat and drink enough while being stressed are common causes. Fenugreek and alfalfa leaf are both herbs known to increase milk production. Beta-glucans in oats and barley and the estrogenic effect from hops also stimulate milk production, which is why low alcohol dark beer is an old folk remedy for raising prolactin (also because it is relaxing).

Melissa
on March 29, 2018 at 8:20 pm

Also I have issue w hip pain especially during the last trimester. Do you recommend anything for that? I read collagen was helpful. Do you know if that’s safe during pregnancy and if so any particulars I should look for? Oh and I actually just looked up Real food organics and at first glance they didn’t look that great.

Alex Swanson
on April 2, 2018 at 8:10 pm

Hi Melissa,

The hip pain can be the ligaments softening to get ready for birth. I’m not aware of any research on taking powdered collagen during pregnancy. Bone broth would be a more conservative route for collagen.

Krista
on March 30, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Hello! I read your recommendation for Naturelo prenatal vitamins. I just bought them and started taking them yesterday. However, after I did more research I have many questions. I wrote to Naturelo and they have been really great about writing back to me but my fears are still NOT eased so I am wondering if you can help me. So vitamins like B12, Biotin, Folate, etc. are much MUCH higher then the recommended daily intake. The lady from Naturelo explained to me that the amounts are higher because the higher amounts get optimal results and the recommended daily intake is what you need just so you won’t be deficient.
However, I read in many articles online that too much folate and too much B12 has been strongly connected to autism. The B12 in these vitamins are 417% of the daily value. If you look up how much a pregnant lady should have most websites say 2.6mcg yet these have 10 mcg. That is so much more than is recommended. Please help me to understand why so much more is needed than is recommended. How are these vitamins considered safe when the amounts are sooooo high. Thanks for your help!

I actually talked about the connection of too much B12 and folic acid and autism in this article. First, it is important to remember that this study looked at synthetic folic acid (different from folate) and cyanocobalamin (B12 with a cyanide molecule). The amount is Naturelo was a reduction by half when they consulted me about their formula. Until just this last month, 10mcg was the amount considered approximately 125% of the daily value (DV). Now with the new DV by the FDA, this amount is considered 417%. When you compare to many other prenatals, 10mcg is going to be on the lower end and you are going to see 30mcg-150mcg in many common prenatal vitamins. While I don’t think 10mcg is much of a concern, I think that 6mcg is the amount of B12 that should be included in Naturelo’s product.

Vitamin Code feeds synthetic vitamins to yeast, and then claims it is “whole food.” The zinc is also low 7.5mcg. They also haven’t updated their DV label (they also have 300mcg of biotin, 800mcg of folate is equivalent 1,333 mcg DFE of folate in Naturelo, etc.) Naturelo reached out to me and said that they will be adjusting their formula based on these new DV values, including lowering B12 to 6mcg.

I would check with your doctor if two capsules of Naturelo is sufficient for you until they make the changes.

Ashley B
on April 8, 2018 at 9:42 am

Hi Alex,

Thank you so much for this useful information.
I recently had a miscarriage at 11 weeks and needed so desperately to know what I could do to better prepare (at least in part the things I can control) prior to conceiving again. I made a big mistake in taking Nature Made’s Prenatal + DHA because it met many of the min requirements for the vitamins, but it’s missing a lot of the micronutrients we need + improper forms of folate and b12. I’ve decided to go with Naturelo + supplement with additional cod liver oil and Vitamin D 2000IU because it has pretty much everything and quite frankly it’s cost friendly.

My questions are: 1) Is there anything else you could recommend for me given my quick info: early 30’s, healthy (no known medical conditions), no history of contraceptive use. I admit to having a poor diet (not much vegetables and no eggs or fish..but of course I’m going to now up my vegetable intake and incorporate eggs).

2). Also the calcium and Vitamin D in Naturelo is not sufficient, but I feel confident in getting this through dietary spinach, almond milk and fortified cereals? Do you think this is enough or should I just buy a calcium+Vitamin D combo supplement?

Thanks again

Alex Swanson
on April 8, 2018 at 11:19 pm

Hi Ashley,

I’m sorry to hear about your miscarriage but encouraged to make all of these excellent changes. It excites me to see people taking these steps and setting up their future children with a great start in life.

1. No, it sounds like the dietary changes you are making are helping you get what you need. Make eggs and greens a big part of your life.

2. I would have your vitamin D level tested to make sure you are not under 30 ng/ml, which then would require more vitamin D. Avoid fortified cereals that contain folic acid and cyanocobalamin. Start checking any fortified foods for these two ingredients. This is very important because folic acid can block folate receptors.

For calcium, use myfitnesspal (free) and start calculating your calcium intake. This will give you feedback on if you are hitting your target.

Ashley B
on April 11, 2018 at 4:49 am

Thank you so much for your quick response. One more question…do you have an article for a healthy diet during pregnancy (i.e. foods to avoid, sample menus, things to watch out for in underlying medical conditions like kale in thyroid disease, just to name a few).

Alex Swanson
on April 11, 2018 at 4:03 pm

Hi Ashley,

I don’t have an article outside of the foods to focus on in this article. I’m not aware of one that outlines sample menus and what to avoid, but perhaps I should add it to the article list for this site.

Kelly Long
on April 11, 2018 at 10:33 pm

I was told by my nutritionist that Megafood Baby and Me 2 was an excellent prenatal supplement, and I was glad to see it listed on your website. After purchasing it, I noticed that the label lists brown rice as one of the main ingredients. Should I be concerned since brown rice is known to have high levels of arsenic?

Alex Swanson
on April 12, 2018 at 3:07 am

Hi Kelly,

Megafood has a good reputation for doing extensive testing on their product, so it isn’t one I would be concerned about. You can request a COA of their latest batch to get confirmation that the product is exceeding low in heavy metals like arsenic.

Devi
on April 14, 2018 at 8:15 pm

Hi Alex,
I’m a MtHFR mutant . I have been on naturello for 6 months and misscarried 4 months Ago. I’m currently ttc and have been on naturello prenatals, raw vitamin coq10 600mg and naturello fish oil once a day since misscarriage . I have been experiencing muscle cramps, neck pain and neck swelling since last few months and I’m wondering if it’s caused by any ingredients in naturallo Prenatals. Worried

Alex Swanson
on April 16, 2018 at 5:15 pm

Hi Devi,

I’m sorry to hear about the miscarriage. Another gene you may want to review is MTHFD1 for folinic acid. If there is an issue with MTHFR and MTHFD1, you may require folinic acid and methylfolate. It would be hard for me to determine what is causing the muscle cramps, neck pain and neck swelling. I would contact your doctor.

Devi
on April 16, 2018 at 2:44 am

Hi Alex,
Naturello prenatal has boron init. Isn’t it bad for the baby? I read that it can cause birth defects

Alex Swanson
on April 16, 2018 at 5:11 pm

Hi Devi,

Boron is a naturally occurring mineral in food, and no, it isn’t dangerous at normal intake levels. Like many things, it can become toxic at high levels, say over 20mg.

1. If I have my levels tested and my vitiman d3 levels are normal, do I still need to add extra d3 to the naturelo prenatal or is that only if your levels are low?

2. The c-salts vitiman C is 1000-4000. naturelo has 85mg. Would 1/2 dose at 2000 be too much? How much would you suggest I take?

3. Can I take extra magnesium glycinate if I want to (sometimes I use it for sleep and constipation) or is it bad because it messes up the calcium To magnesium ratio?

Thanks a ton! I am so impressed by your accuracy and attentiveness to everyone’s questions!

Alex Swanson
on April 20, 2018 at 10:00 pm

Hi Kimberly,

Great!

1. It would depend on what range of normal you are in, your climate and how much sun exposure you get, but I think 2,000-4,000IU should be maintained during pregnancy as a general recommendation.

2. You want to stay between 500mg-1000mg.

3. Yes, however, use magnesium citrate for constipation and glycinate for sleep. You won’t require as much citrate for results.

You are very welcome!

Lishsh
on April 20, 2018 at 3:24 pm

Hello how good/bad Pregnacare Conception tablets?

Thanks

Alex Swanson
on April 20, 2018 at 10:16 pm

Hi Lishsh,

I think you could find a better formula. The use of folic acid and cyanocobalamin isn’t something I recommend.

Kara
on April 20, 2018 at 4:55 pm

Hi Alex,
I have been researching Prenatal Vitamins for weeks now. Trying to find one that is fortified but does not contain any berries because I am allergic. I try to only use vitamins that are Nut Free (allergic), Dairy Free, Soy Free and Gluten Free. With my 1st baby I used One A Day but later I was very disappointed I used these as they contain Red Dye 40 and do not meet a lot of nutritional requirements. With my 2nd baby I used Rainbow Light Prenatal and I was very satisfied, however I kept having rashes on my face. I later found out I can not have raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. With my many allergies I find it hard to decide on a good prenatal. A lot of my research has led me to Baby and Me 2 Prenatal, until I saw your article–now I am intrigued and leaning towards Naturelo. I do have a question though, I also take Juice Plus Supplements everyday. Therefore, I am wondering if taking either Baby and Me 2 or Naturelo in conjunction with Juice Plus would be too much for me and baby? I know that too much folate, vitamin b and a can all be bad as well. I eat a salad almost everyday for lunch as well with dark leafy greens. I am wondering if maybe I just need to take a vitamin d supplement and no prenatal vitamin due to the Juice Plus supplements.
Thank you in advance for your input

Alex Swanson
on April 20, 2018 at 10:18 pm

Hi Kara,

Which Juice Plus products are you using? Are you okay with cherries?

Kara
on April 23, 2018 at 11:14 am

Hi Alex,
I am using the Juice Plus Orchard Blend Chewables. I take 4 of the green garden blend and 4 of the red fruit blend. I am OK with cherries. I am allergic to strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, pear, bananas, and nuts. I wasn’t always allergic to all of these but my immune system has been lowered from constant use of steroids for my asthma. I heard wonderful things about juice plus and I am trying to get healthier before becoming pregnant with baby #3!

Alex Swanson
on April 24, 2018 at 12:20 am

Hi Kara,

If you look at the “other ingredients” in the Juice Plus Orchard Blend Chewables, you will see that beta-carotene, vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are added. These products have low nutritional density and therefore these need to be added. It also shows you that it is incomplete and should not be substituted for a prenatal. I would not recommend substituting a Juice Plus product for a prenatal because it is missing numerous vitamins and minerals in adequate amounts. It would be better to use a high-quality prenatal, vitamin D, fish oil, determine if you are getting adequate vitamin C, choline, calcium and magnesium, and to eat a variety of nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.

Kara
on April 24, 2018 at 12:35 pm

Hello Alex,

Thank you again for your response. In regards to Baby and Me 2 I am seeing a lot of emphasize put that you will need to take extra calcium and magnesium. Is this only if you don’t have a balanced diet? What is the purpose of magnesium during pregnancy? Do you have a calcium and magnesium supplement that you recommend? I don’t do a lot of dairy, mostly coconut milk and sometimes soy. I also rarely eat meat or poultry. I do however, eat about 2 eggs a day. Does that mean that I might be consuming too much chloline is I take Baby and Me 2? Would it be dangerous to take the Juice Plus Garden and Orchard Blend in conjunction with Baby and Me 2?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Alex Swanson
on April 24, 2018 at 11:14 pm

Hi Kara,

Thorne Research and Pure Encapsulations both have calcium/magnesium supplements without any extras that go well with a prenatal. I would recommend using the app myfitnesspal (it is free) to calculate how much calcium you are getting. Magnesium is depleted in the U.S. soil and water supply, so it is harder to get. Magnesium has a very long list of purposes, many of which can be seen here: http://thehealthbeat.com/how-have-we-become-so-magnesium-deficient/

One egg has about 125mg of choline, and if you are eating two eggs a day plus the 300mg in the Baby and Me 2 prentatal, that would be 550mg. That is ideal since you are not eating much meat.

I wouldn’t say it is dangerous to take Juice Plus with the prental, but it may be an unnecessary expense.

Kara
on April 25, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Alex,
Thank you so much for your timely responses and valued expertise. You truly you are wonderful!

Alex Swanson
on April 25, 2018 at 6:30 pm

Hi Kara,

You are very welcome! I wish you the best.

Karina
on April 23, 2018 at 3:19 pm

I am not sure if my response was sent through…I don’t see it but I did reply!

Julie
on April 21, 2018 at 6:31 pm

Hi Alex,
Thanks so much for the great informative article! I’m kind of torn between Baby and Me 2 and Naturelo (which I only heard of from this article but it sounds good). I’m 40 years old, doing IVF, and have Hashimotos controlled with levothyroxin. I also tested double heterozygous for MTHFR. I have one healthy (though very slightly developmentally delayed) 5 year old who was conceived naturally when I didn’t know anything about MTHFR and took “regular” prenatals at the time!

My concern with Baby and Me 2 is the use of yeast and the fact that they don’t specify L-methylfolate (just says “methylfolate”) My concern with Naturelo is the vitamin doses are a bit higher (especially the B vitamins) and I’m not a big fan of overdoing vitamins.

Based on my history and concerns, which of the two prenatals do you think would be better for me? Do you think it makes a real difference? I also take Ca/Mg and extra Vit D.

Thanks!!

Alex Swanson
on April 23, 2018 at 5:27 pm

Hi Julie,

Regarding your concern with Baby and Me 2 and yeast, I do not see an issue. There is a myth perpetuated that yeast creates yeast in the body. Yeast is everywhere and can’t be avoided. Yeast overgrowth in the body occurs from hormonal imbalances along with a poor diet high in refined sugar and flour-based carbohydrates. The 5-methylfolate is from broccoli, which is the food-form.

Naturelo actually had the most conservative amounts of vitamins and minerals, which is one of the reasons it took the #1 spot. If you take a look at their old label compared to the new one, you will see that it is the new FDA guidelines that changed the DV values. Other companies haven’t changed their labels yet and will reflect higher DV’s, requiring re-formulation for many of them.

I don’t think you can really go wrong with either one. If you are already taking extra calcium and magnesium, the Baby and Me 2 may be a better fit.

Jessie
on April 23, 2018 at 10:48 am

Good Evening Alex!

I was wondering if you could offer me some advice regarding MTFHR homogyzous gene.

My partner and I are about to start trying for a family and I am now quite scared and very confused at all the conflicting information about what to take to reduce my homocysteine levels and also what is a safe ore natal for me to take?

I recently had a b6 toxicity from a b complex supplement I was taking for general health and got peripheral neuropathy so am a bit scared to take anything with b6 in it again :-/

Any advice you could offer would be warmly received and very much appreciated as this is meant to be a beautiful exciting time in my life but I feel overwhelmed with all the stories of miscarriages and blood clots etc with this homozygous MTFHR gene (which apparently is the most complex?) and trying to have a successful healthy pregnancy?

Thank you alex! 🙏

God bless,
Kind regards
Jessie

Alex Swanson
on April 24, 2018 at 12:34 am

Hi Jessie,

I’ve seen people with a homozygous MTHFR 677 gene that have normal homocysteine levels with adequate dietary folate intake, so let me help take the fear surrounding it away. I’m not sure if you are aware, but I am the founder of Nutrition Genome where we do nutrigenomic testing. When assessing a homozygous MTHFR gene, you also need to look at PEMT (choline), MTHFD1 (folinic acid), MTR and MTRR (B12) and CBS (B6). For blood clots, the F5 gene should be reviewed. This helps you fully understand your methylation cycle and how to be proactive to prevent blood clots. If your PEMT genes for choline are working well, less stress is put on MTHFR for homocysteine levels. If not, then adequate choline intake and normal B2 and folate intake help stabilize enzyme function. Over 800mcg of methylfolate is not necessary, even for a homozygous MTHFR 677 gene.

I completely understand your concern about B6, and this is a reason I’m fairly conservative with dosing.

This can really help organize all of your requirements and ensure you know exactly what your body and your baby needs.

Jess
on April 29, 2018 at 2:51 pm

Wow thank you SO much for all that information Alex I really appreciate it!! And yes I will do the genetic testing a so didn’t realise all those other factors and genes that you mentioned come into play with the mtfhr gene etc!
Thanks So much Amex for all your helpful advice to us all! 🙂

Alex Swanson
on April 30, 2018 at 4:57 pm

Hi Jess,

You are so welcome!

Maddy
on April 23, 2018 at 7:34 pm

I am 36 years old and planning to have my second kid this year. With my first, I took the Honest whole food prenatals and DHA. No complaints except for the size of the pills. I’ve seen your comments about these and other prenatals, and am trying to decide between Naturelo, Baby & Me, and Baby & Me 2. I’m a vegetarian with an average diet. I do my best to make nutritious choices, but do let it slip every now and then. Does my age and vegetarian diet make one of these prenatals a better choice?

Alex Swanson
on April 24, 2018 at 12:11 am

Hi Maddy,

As a vegetarian, you want to be mindful of getting sufficient zinc (and the right form), protein, iron, choline (if you’re not eating eggs) and B12. Regarding age, your requirements do not necessarily change for pregnancy, but you do want to be more conscious of chemicals/toxins (clean diet, cleaning products, laundry, etc). Folate, choline, B12, B6 and betaine should be the main dietary focus for healthy methylation. If your choline intake is low, I would lean towards Baby and Me 2.

Maddy
on April 24, 2018 at 4:22 am

Thanks Alex!

While I like the idea of just 2 tablets a day, I see that I might have to take an additional calcium and magnesium supplement (Baby & Me 2 doesn’t have calcium and magnesium). Do you have a recommendation?

Why do you consider this prenatal to be better than Baby & Me?

With regards to Choline, how many eggs does one have to eat to get the required amount?

Alex Swanson
on April 24, 2018 at 11:33 pm

Hi Maddy,

I keep getting this question regarding a calcium/magnesium recommendation, so I just added the one I recommend by Pure Encapsulations in the article.

I think Naturelo and Baby and Me 2 are both excellent and are pretty close in terms of the best rating. Naturelo has more calcium and magnesium and is less expensive. Baby and Me 2 has more choline, but less calcium and magnesium and is more expensive. You have to make the choice that works the best for your needs and your budget.

For choline, each egg has about 125mg. Other foods also have choline, but eggs (fish eggs are a great source as well) have the highest amount. That means 3 eggs daily along with other foods in your diet that contain choline would help you get above the 450mg target.

Mel
on April 23, 2018 at 10:34 pm

Hi alex,
i bought naturelo prenatal last year. i reordered this year noticed the %dv and mcg are different. do you know whats going on with that?. i cant show you the pics

Alex Swanson
on April 23, 2018 at 11:14 pm

Hi Mel,

Yes, I have a responded a few times in this thread regarding the change. Here was my response:

In terms of the biotin, they said they will be reducing it based on the new DV percentage.

Kirsty
on April 25, 2018 at 1:10 pm

Hi Alex,

Do you no when they will be reducing the biotin as I was hoping to order ASAP? I have read all through your recommendations only to find that I am unable to purchase Baby & Me 2 in the UK so therefore will have to go with Naturelo.

Regards,
Kirsty

Alex Swanson
on April 25, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Hi Kirsty,

I haven’t received a date. I would reach out to Naturelo and see if they can give you an answer.

Shannon
on April 27, 2018 at 3:26 am

Hi Alex,

Thank you so much for doing this article and review of the vitamins. I knew the “worst” vitamins were of poor quality but I was specifically looking for a review of the Naturelo Whole Foods Prenatal. I have been taking their Women’s Multivitamin for a few years now and love it but now that my husband and I are looking to get pregnant I wanted to look into the reviews on their prenatal before I bought it. You did a well researched and written article that gave me the information I was looking for.

Thank you and please don’t stop your good work!

Alex Swanson
on April 28, 2018 at 12:30 am

Hi Shannon,

Thank you for taking the time for the feedback and that it helped you make an informed decision. I really appreciate it!

Lindsay
on April 29, 2018 at 12:18 am

Hi Alex, I’m looking for a good prenatal without iron (I have hemachromatosis). My previous pregnancy I did not need to take any additional iron until the 3rd trimester and then it was only 18 mg per day. Any recommendations on an iron free prenatal? Thanks for your research!

Mel
on April 29, 2018 at 2:25 pm

Hi Alex

I have been taking Naturelo prenatal and nordic natural prenatal dha for couple months now. i noticed my joints in my body hurts. i stopped taking the dha just to see and i find i am not in as much pain. I know omega 3 suppose to help joint pain but from your research have you ever saw cases where it made it worst?

Mel

Nick
on April 30, 2018 at 3:11 pm

Hi Alex. What a great thread this has turned into. I took your advice about naturelo and the dha oil supplement. My wife feels great and we welcomed our baby boy a week ago. Do you have any suggestions over formula milk? With so many out there its hard to know what’s good, bad and ugly. Your help over this matter would be greatly apreciated. It might prove to be a very popular thread also.

Alex Swanson
on April 30, 2018 at 10:54 pm

Hi Nick,

It is great that this has become a hub for answers. I’m happy to provide help for those in need.

Congrats! Glad to hear your wife is doing well. Yes, that is a tough question. There’s not a lot out there to choose from. The only good one I am aware of is Holle Organic Infant Formula from Germany.

mirah zeitlyn
on May 1, 2018 at 1:48 pm

Hi there!
I’m curious why MyKind Organics prenatal once daily didn’t make either list. I’m currently 8 weeks along and have been taking that along with Carlson brand Mother’s DHA. It helps me to have my dose of prenatal vitamins in one pill as swallowing many pills a day makes me feel gross and too full to eat. I wouldn’t mind switching prenatal vitamin brands if it seems like I should but would so much prefer a ‘one a day’ rather than having to take handfuls of pills.
Thanks for the thorough research!
-Mirah

Alex Swanson
on May 2, 2018 at 8:59 pm

Hi Mirah,

There are pros and cons to the Garden of Life myKind Organic. The pro is that it is one of the only true 100% whole food multivitamin. The con is that certain minerals in this form are harder to absorb (zinc and iron for example), and zinc in this product is also low. Another issue I have is the stability of the water-soluble B-vitamins, carotenoids, and vitamin C directly from plants. These are known to degrade post-harvest in fruits and vegetables, and it would be helpful if the company tested their products months after production for customers to know how much the amounts are changing. They did add methylcobalamin from yeast, so the B12 should be stable. You need to be aware that you may require extra calcium, magnesium, and zinc to better complete the formula.

Lindsay
on May 3, 2018 at 1:34 pm

Hi Alex, I’m looking for a good prenatal without iron (I have hemachromatosis and do not need extra iron until near the 3rd trimester. Any recommendations on an iron free prenatal? Thanks for your research!

Alex Swanson
on May 3, 2018 at 6:17 pm

Hi Lindsay,

Sorry for the delay! I was asking practitioner colleagues of mine because I was stumped. They weren’t aware of one either. The best approach would be to use an iron-free regular multivitamin formula, which is going to be very similar to a prenatal. If you do find one, I would be happy to analyze it for you. I’m sure there are others out there that would really benefit from knowing an iron-free option.

Lindsay
on May 3, 2018 at 7:33 pm

Hi Alex, no problem and thank you for your research! I am currently taking the Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal capsules but would like to find something else. 8 capsules a day is a lot. Is there a reason to be concerned with such high doses of some of the amounts on this one, like the Vitamin E and others?

Alex Swanson
on May 3, 2018 at 8:39 pm

Hi Lindsay,

I would agree that 8 capsules are a lot. It is definitely a stronger formula than I agree with, but the right forms are used, and I know a lot of practitioners that recommend it. The vitamin E dose is higher than necessary, but I also haven’t seen any evidence that 130mg is a concern. I would like to see them take all of the B-vitamin dosages down except for folate and decrease the amount of chromium and manganese.

Lindsay
on May 10, 2018 at 1:00 pm

Hi Alex,

I recently came across the Mama Bird AM/PM Prenatal without iron. Would you mind analyzing it? I also take Nordic Naturals for DHA so I’m ok with it not containing DHA. It does appear to be low in calcium. I eat a lot of dairy and typically drink more almond milk when pregnant. Thank you again for your research and assistance. I greatly appreciate your help!

Alex Swanson
on May 10, 2018 at 3:47 pm

Hi Lindsay,

My biggest question is why iodine was not included. This seems like a good option for those needing to avoid excess iron or have a sensitivity to supplemental iodine, but iodine is incredibly important during pregnancy. They answered a question on their Amazon page that they would begin including iodine, but I don’t see it on the label. The recommended amount of iodine for pregnant women is now 290mg daily.

Lindsay
on May 11, 2018 at 11:59 am

Hi Alex, Thank you for your reply. Is there a separate iodine supplement you would recommend? Thank you!

Alex Swanson
on May 15, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Hi Lindsay,

Yes, you could get Nature’s Way Kelp, which is better than isolated iodine. It contains 300mcg of iodine and is very inexpensive. I would check with your doctor before adding this to your regime since he or she knows your health history.

Jessica
on May 5, 2018 at 2:40 am

Hey there! I just came across this page because I was googling Vitamin A as retinol palmate in prenatal vitamins. I have been taking the vita fusion prenatal for the last year before becoming pregnant- I was taking one almost every day (the serving size is 2 daily) I am 7 weeks pregnant and have only been taking one every couple of days. I eat a pretty well balanced diet with fruits/vegetables/eggs/meats/grains. I am not super religious about taking a prenatal every day sine I found out I was pregnant 3 weeks ago- but after reading about Vit A in the form of retinol, I’m very nervous! Even if I haven’t been taking the recommended dosage or daily. I’m upset that this is even allowed in a prenatal and want to call the company. To your knowledge, has anyone had a birth resulting in birth defects from a prenatal such as this? Is it documented? This is my 2nd pregnancy- with my son I didn’t take any prenatals until 2/3rd trimester because I was convinced that the amount from my diet was adequate.

Alex Swanson
on May 7, 2018 at 7:50 pm

Hi Jessica,

Based on the current research, there isn’t any evidence to show that retinol palmitate in the amounts put in prenatal vitamins are linked to birth defects. The research shows that one very high dose of vitamin A at time of key embryonic development is the concern.

Shashi
on May 7, 2018 at 9:15 pm

Hi Alex my obst. Has advised me to take 5mg folic acid. I’m 7 weeks pregnant. I’m also taking Rainbow light prenatals one a day. I was searching if I should continue rainbow light which contains 0.4 mcg of Folic acid i it as well. Your post surprised me by putting Rainbow light supps in the worst category. I’m upset that I have been doing it all wrong for my baby! Should I just throw them out? And if yes then is naturelo my only option? Even then do you recommend a prenatal as I’m already taking 5mg of Folic Acid?

Alex Swanson
on May 7, 2018 at 10:54 pm

Hi Shashi,

I’m not aware of the circumstances, but I would ask why you couldn’t use methylfolate, folinic acid or a combination of both instead of folic acid. A high dose of folic acid can bottleneck folate receptors (this can vary with gene variants in DHFR, MTHFD1 and MTHFR). I would read the research on folic acid in this article.

If you were taking additional folate supplementation per your doctor, a prenatal should still be used. Any of the prenatal choices from the Best list would be a better choice over Rainbow Light.